Jürgen Braun, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the Bundestag and a member of the Human Rights Committee in the German parliament, commented on Germany’s approach to political issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in an interview with Radio Republika Srpska. He specifically addressed the recent remarks of Bundestag member Michael Brand from the CDU, who is also his colleague on the Human Rights Committee.
Commenting on Brand’s statement to Sarajevo media, where he openly called for changes to the Dayton Peace Agreement to the detriment of the Serbs, labeling their political representatives as “nationalists and racists,” Braun emphasized that such statements do not contribute to peace but rather to conflict.
- Changing the Dayton Peace Agreement would be dangerous. For a German politician, it would mean fanning the flames in that region. Nearly 30 years after Dayton, BiH has barely sustainable stability, and the Dayton Agreement has only partially enabled a peaceful and stable life for the three peoples in BiH. It is dangerous for anyone, 30 years later, to take a side that is solely against the Serbs – said Braun.
Braun pointed out that Brand simultaneously ignores political Islam, which, unfortunately, is viewed in official Germany as an illusion, as if it does not exist.
He stressed that political Islam, with all its forms, is present in BiH and must not be ignored.
- Thirty years after Dayton and the end of the war, the role of the Islamist leader Alija Izetbegović is still viewed positively and without any criticism, even though he and his Islamists contributed to severe crimes. In Germany, it is necessary to report on the “gray areas” so that all three peoples can reach reconciliation. We must no longer remain silent about the crimes of Bosniaks and the radical Islamization in certain parts of BiH. It is necessary to objectively pay attention to the interests of Croats and Serbs, not just Bosniaks, to reach a compromise beneficial for all three sides. At the same time, we must avoid attributing blame to only one side – Braun said.
He stated that Brand’s biased stance does not help Germany contribute to development in BiH.
- He avoids seeing the complete picture and presents the situation in black and white. The interference of certain countries in BiH’s internal politics by supporting only the Bosniak side is not good, as it conceals the strengthening of radical Islam in BiH. When mentioning crimes, it is necessary to mention them on all three sides, including those committed by Islamists, equally and objectively. It is not good to divide ethnic groups in BiH into good and bad because every nation has good and bad people, those who committed crimes and those who offer hope for development – Braun said.
He emphasized that Germany’s policy towards BiH will be more realistic when a more conservative political option takes over.
- Not only should the Alternative for Germany have the opportunity to lead Germany’s foreign policy towards the Balkan region to get a more realistic picture, but the ruling CDU should also adopt a more conservative and realistic policy and move away from a one-sided view of political events. Only then can Germany become a partner in the Western Balkans and, contrary to the current actions of Brussels, contribute to the peaceful coexistence of people in the Balkans – concluded German parliamentarian Jürgen Braun in an interview with Radio Republika Srpska.
Source: RTRS
