BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković, leader of the People and Justice party, is approaching the end of his ministerial term amid fresh controversy over his attempt to link voting arrangements for Serbian citizens in BiH to unrelated diplomatic issues, a move critics say could further strain relations between the two neighboring countries.
The Serbian Embassy in BiH submitted a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 28, informing the authorities that parliamentary elections would be held in Serbia on October 25.
The embassy requested permission to open 28 polling stations across BiH for approximately 20,000 eligible voters.
Konaković told several media outlets that his ministry had prepared the necessary documentation but that he had requested representatives of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) first allow consideration of several matters within his ministry’s jurisdiction, which he claimed had been blocked for months.
These included purchasing properties for BiH’s diplomatic and consular network, appointing attachés in certain European countries and determining the salary base for employees at BiH diplomatic missions.
Konaković warned that the proposal to open polling stations would not receive support unless these matters were approved beforehand by the Council of Ministers of BiH.
He also suggested that organizing voting without the consent of BiH institutions could result in measures against Serbian Embassy personnel, including their removal from the country.
Council of Ministers expected to consider voting arrangements
According to earlier announcements, a session of the Council of Ministers addressing the issues raised by Konaković was scheduled for October 20 at 3:00 p.m.
A telephone session was expected to follow at the request of Deputy Chairman Staša Košarac, with the aim of considering approval for Serbian citizens to vote at polling stations in BiH.
At the time the newspaper Glas Srpske went to press, no information was available about the outcome of either session.
However, Konaković’s statements prompted strong reactions from political representatives in Republika Srpska and Serbia.
Stevandić: Konaković will not succeed in creating a new crisis
Nenad Stevandić, Speaker of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, argued that Konaković would not succeed in creating another crisis in the Balkans through his latest threats.
Stevandić suggested that Konaković’s position was motivated by frustration over electoral defeat.
“I hope it is not in the interest of Bosniaks either to follow those who announce conflicts and want to start disputes with their neighbors,” Stevandić said.
He added that Republika Srpska had never deliberately harmed anyone in the Federation of BiH or challenged matters of importance to its residents.
Dodik: There is no reason to prevent Serbian citizens from voting
SNSD leader Milorad Dodik also reacted, stating that there was no justification for the Council of Ministers to refuse permission for Serbian citizens to vote in BiH.
Dodik argued that Konaković did not represent BiH on his own and that his threats to block voting demonstrated what he described as the appropriation of common institutions for individual political purposes.
“If the Constitution establishes that BiH is based on the common position of everyone, then it cannot simply be Elmedin’s position,” Dodik said.
He accused Konaković of failing to respect Serbs as a constituent people of BiH.
“If the Council of Ministers fails to act, we will enter a very difficult spiral of mutual misunderstandings that will bring nothing good to BiH,” Dodik warned.
Jovanović: Voting rights should be respected
Former Yugoslav Foreign Minister Živadin Jovanović accused Konaković of continuing a policy that undermines good-neighborly relations between Serbia and BiH.
“It is as though he has assigned himself a mission to disrupt relations between Serbia and BiH,” Jovanović said.
He emphasized that enabling eligible citizens to participate in elections is an established European democratic practice, particularly relevant to BiH as a country seeking closer integration with the European Union.
“This is another disruptive move and another illustration of Konaković’s negative role in these relations. I believe the new Presidency of BiH and other relevant actors should respond to create a positive atmosphere and respect the will of citizens to participate in the electoral process,” Jovanović stated.
Previous diplomatic controversies
Konaković has faced criticism over several previous diplomatic disputes.
According to Glas Srpske, he recently made a decision concerning the expulsion of an employee of the Serbian Embassy in Sarajevo.
The newspaper also pointed to a series of diplomatic protest notes issued during his tenure.
These included protests addressed to Serbia and Montenegro over the All-Serb Assembly, as well as objections to statements by Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković expressing support for the principle of three constituent peoples in BiH.
Konaković also used a summit in Turkey to criticize Republika Srpska and Serbia and sent a diplomatic protest to Belgrade over the attendance of Serbian officials at January 9 celebrations in Republika Srpska.
The newspaper further criticized his response to insults directed at Serbs by BiH supporters during a basketball match against Serbia in Sarajevo.
The latest dispute over polling stations has added to political tensions ahead of Serbia’s parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday, October 25.
Source: Glas Srpske
