The Serb member and Chairwoman of the Presidency of BiH, Željka Cvijanović, stated today in Sarajevo that complex tasks lie ahead for BiH and expressed her expectation that the EU will show more understanding for BiH and take into account the real obstacles the country faces.
Cvijanović emphasized that she expects the EU to take a step forward and recognize BiH as a credible state with its own institutions, which should handle its affairs independently—without interference from the outside and without interventions that would push the country from one crisis to another.
She thanked European Council President António Costa for his visit and the meeting where key issues of interest to both BiH and the EU were discussed, as well as for the understanding and encouragement the EU offers BiH on its European path.
“We informed him, each from our own perspective, about what is really happening. Perhaps there is not as much progress as we and the EU representatives would like. BiH can build its European path on the one hand through its credible institutions that are capable of making decisions, and on the other hand with the EU. There is no room for third-party interventions, including Christian Schmidt,” Cvijanović stated.
She noted that BiH faces complex challenges.
“Some of them were addressed earlier when we were able to reach agreements and made certain progress. I regret that we didn’t reach the point of discussing the opening of negotiations. Costa reminded us of the EU’s expectations. The institutional crisis and deadlock occurred due to unauthorized, unconstitutional, and non-Dayton interventions by an unelected foreigner. With EU support, we can restore all processes and activities through credible, democratic institutions that fulfill their obligations among domestic actors—without imposition,” Cvijanović said.
She informed Costa that she sees no problem and believes that the issue surrounding the extension of EUFOR’s mandate is an artificially created narrative.
“I have never seen any indication that it might be stopped—never, by anyone—and I felt it was my duty to say that,” Cvijanović stressed.
She added that she sees no threat of armed conflict or anything similar.
“We must restore credibility to domestic institutions that can operate in the spirit of what the EU membership criteria envision—functioning independently and based on our own decisions. We were all elected by the people, to whom we are accountable in elections, not to some third party,” Cvijanović said.
She added that no one who is not elected by the citizens of BiH and is not authorized by international or domestic legal regulations can perform the duties for which the elected officials are responsible.
“I believe that sanctions imposed by some European countries are counterproductive. I think they will only distance us from recognizing certain values or shared goals. I consider them a major mistake in this entire process. I place my hopes in Costa’s personal credibility and commitment, believing we will be able to overcome these issues together,” Cvijanović concluded.
Source: RTRS
