The opening of negotiations for BiH’s EU membership is a historic moment, stated German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Sarajevo. However, she did not clearly state whether this would happen at the end of March.
Instead, she sent already deployed messages of support to the illegitimate Christian Schmidt and about the alleged Russian destabilizing influence in the region.
Serbian representatives in joint institutions told Baerbock that Srpska is permanently committed to the European path, but not at the expense of its constitutional powers.
Whether BiH is closer to obtaining a start date for negotiations with the EU will be reliably known on March 21 at the session of the European Council. In the meantime, the German Foreign Minister signals that BiH’s European path has no alternative. On the sidelines of the meetings, we learn that she has requested from the authorities of BiH a clear condemnation of Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine. The cessation, as she specifically emphasized, of the secessionist fantasies of Republika Srpska.
“Only a united BiH can head towards the EU, and I discussed this specifically with the Serb member of the Presidency /Željka Cvijanović/. I got the impression that we speak the same language, that we jointly want to move towards the EU, and that it is clear to everyone that reform steps are needed. Therefore, I appeal, especially to those in Banja Luka, to walk this European path together and decisively, clearly opting for European values,” Baerbock said.
Republika Srpska is strategically committed to the European path. Without the contribution of its representatives in adopting necessary laws, BiH would not have anything to boast about and expect a green light from the European Commission. Serb MPs and delegates are grateful for the support for the European path, but only if it is sincere.
Delegate in the Club of Serbs in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Radovan Kovačević, says that any support from EU member states is useful, but problematic when it is hypocritical.
“We heard from the German Foreign Minister that she supports us adopting certain solutions in parliament. She believes it is better than having her fellow citizen, or German national Christian Schmidt, impose it. Imagine if we said that it’s better for Germany to adopt something in its parliament rather than having some unelected foreigner impose it. In all countries, representatives of the citizens negotiate, not threats from unelected foreigners,” Kovačević emphasized.
The head of the SNSD deputies’ club in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Sanja Vulić, said that Republika Srpska has proven its commitment to the European path, and Baerbock needs to show the same approach towards all peoples in BiH.
“I reminded her of her visit two years ago. Even then, she said there exists a factor of destabilization and stated that this factor was the President of Srpska, Milorad Dodik. I reminded her that destabilization did not occur and that Dodik and all of us from Srpska have done everything towards progress to the EU. And this indicates that her information is not accurate,” Vulić stated.
The German Foreign Minister predictably supported her compatriot Christian Schmidt and even hinted that he might use the so-called Bonn powers to impose changes to the Electoral Law if domestic politicians do not reach an agreement.
“To my assertion that Christian Schmidt is a disruptive factor and lacks legitimacy, which we will prove over time, she said that if you want to not have Christian Schmidt, find a two-thirds majority and change the Constitution, which clearly shows she does not understand the basic things about BiH,” says Vulić.
The two-day diplomatic offensive on BiH, as expected, did not result in the adoption of the law on conflict of interest. Republika Srpska repeats that due to the disinterest of federal partners, the opportunity to implement all 14 priorities in a package, including the Law on the cessation of the mandate of foreign judges in the Constitutional Court, was missed.
Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Staša Košarac, said that the law on conflict of interest is in the phase of harmonization and believes that all comments submitted by Republika Srpska will be taken into account, as they are in line with constitutional solutions.
Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, Elmedin Konaković, said that negotiations on the details of this law began yesterday.
Baerbock’s address did not go without an unnecessary history lesson, which concludes that she favors one, the Bosniak people. She herself admitted that two years ago, she met with “Mothers of Srebrenica,” and it did not occur to her during this visit to speak with any of thе Serb associations.
Source: RTRS
