Zukić for NAP: It is necessary to show political maturity and breadth, the destroyers of the state have taken their chance!

Interview by Delvin Kovač

SDA Vice-President and delegate in the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament Muamer Zukić spoke in an interview with the Patria News Agency about the attack of the smaller BiH entity on the constitutional order of BiH, destructive policies from the RS, the unhindered "strolling" of fugitives from the law around BiH and the neighborhood, the subservience and inferiority of the Troika, and also touched upon the interference of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in the internal affairs of our country.

How do you view the latest anti-constitutional and anti-Dayton moves by the RS leadership, which is relentlessly working to break up the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina? Is it possible to stop this, and what is the solution?

Zukić: It is clearly not a political incident, not a single destructive step by the RS leadership, but a project whose implementation has intensified in the last few years, and as a result of global, regional, and domestic political circumstances, which the project designers of this crisis have assessed as favorable for the most radical, anti-Dayton, anti-constitutional, and anti-state actions to date.

Although the crisis caused by the actions of the RS leadership is primarily political and legal in nature, it poses a real threat to peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as confirmed by many factors, including the increased presence of EUFOR forces.

At this moment and at this level of escalation, it is not easy to provide an answer on how to get out of the current crisis. Of course, unconstitutional acts must be repealed through prescribed procedures, and those responsible for attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and its partial and temporary paralysis must be held accountable in accordance with the law.

Looking further and deeper, with the aim of removing the causes and sources of the crisis, it is necessary to form a government without those who are now openly destroying the state. The question is whether the desired effect for Bosnia and Herzegovina will be achieved if the backbone of such (new) government is made up of those who, through their weakness, have allowed anti-state policies to gain the momentum we are witnessing today.

A central arrest warrant has been issued for fugitives from BiH justice Milorad Dodik, Nenad Stevandić, and Radovan Višković. "On-duty" politicians and analysts are telling us that BiH institutions are doing their job. But is that so, considering, for example, Stevandić's case and his unimpeded return from Serbia to BiH? He even claims that BiH police officers saluted him when crossing the border.

Zukić: High state officials from the RS participate in the design and creation of the crisis we are witnessing, with their influence on individuals within the institutions responsible for resolving such crises. So, Stevandić's 'saluting' is not overly surprising.

You also mentioned politicians from the Federation who use various opportunities for self-promotion. It is clear that they often lack substance in what they say, but I would not dwell on them specifically. This is not the time for major accusations of that kind.

What is important is that deep within the institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, at various levels of government, there is a lot of seriousness and professionalism. That is the strength we can rely on.

No matter how much this trio tries to portray themselves as untouchable, it seems that is not entirely the case. Dodik recently complained that the arrest warrant prevented him from going to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić also admitted that Dodik cannot attend a session of the Serbian Assembly due to the arrest warrant. Admittedly, he characterized that warrant as international, which is not the case, at least not yet.

Zukić: I think the mentioned trio is much more politically vulnerable than it appears. Destructive policies from the RS simply have not had an adequate response so far, so they have seized the opportunity. There has not been an appropriate and timely reaction from the international community.

The Troika was clearly an inferior and largely subservient coalition partner. After the 'All-Serbian Assembly,' the support from Vučić and Serbia became more intense and concrete. A drastically different approach from key international actors was also expected...

Speaking of Vučić, how do you view his statements regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina? He constantly says that the arrest of Dodik would lead to a "complete catastrophe."

Zukić: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has long crossed the boundaries of diplomatic culture and often, with his statements and behavior, as well as the actions of his closest associates, grossly interferes in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and undermines its sovereignty.

During his rule, we are witnessing the revival of Greater Serbian hegemonic ideas through the 'Serbian world' as a modern version of the 'Greater Serbia' from the 90s, which is a direct threat to the survival of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Statements like the one mentioned about a 'complete catastrophe' could also be treated as threats to peace.

How do you comment on the case of the (former?) director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), Darko Ćulum? He resigned - he is the director, he is not the director... In any case, SIPA currently appears headless, and therefore completely powerless.

Zukić: I agree that in this case, SIPA currently appears powerless, meaning it does not have the effectiveness in the RS that it should have. The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina's temporary measure has prevented the application of the laws of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska that were obstacles to SIPA's operations in that entity. So, legal or legislative obstacles of that kind do not exist.

And certainly, the current destabilization of SIPA is related to the state level of government and its internal relations, primarily to its leadership personnel coming from the RS.

It is truly difficult for the public to accept that fugitives from the law are walking around the country and the neighborhood, operating within entity institutions and on RS television, simply defying everyone, while the competent authorities, including SIPA, are not taking the actions they exist for.

After all this, can it be said that the subservient policy of the Troika is detrimental, above all, to the state of BiH, because they handed over some of the most important positions to Dodik on a silver platter, especially in the crucial security sector.

Zukić: If you want to destabilize a country, you will certainly see an opportunity in a situation where the Constitution is suspended, the most numerous people are outvoted, a government is imposed, when you see that governments are not coping well (especially in the security sector), and the international community somehow supports such a concept of government...

This entire context that I have described has contributed to the situation we have today, along with the rise of regional national hegemonisms and with expectations (which turned out to be unfounded) of changes on the geopolitical level related to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I repeat, this is not the time for accusations and blame. The Troika has done what it has done, and the citizens will judge that in the next elections. Nor is it the time for inflammatory messages. Of course, there are those who will defend Bosnia, and the preparation for defense and the defense of the state is a constitutional obligation... But, at this moment, it is necessary to show political maturity and breadth.

It is necessary for all those who want the stabilization of the situation in the country to talk with cool heads. I believe that peace and prosperity are common denominators for all peoples and citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that on these foundations, we can build the future.