US Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia James O'Brien said today in Sarajevo that the biggest challenge facing Bosnia and Herzegovina today is the escalation of rhetoric, especially talk of secession, stressing that the US strongly supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and multi-ethnic character of BiH.
"Calls to create new borders or change internationally recognized borders, attempts to incite and celebrate ethnic and nationalist violence, disrespect for key institutions, such as the Constitutional Court, represent anti-Dayton, unconstitutional and dangerous actions," said O'Brien in his lecture "Bosnia and Herzegovina: Challenges and Opportunities", held at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo.
He warned that the USA "will respond to anti-Dayton and unconstitutional actions and will not allow malignant actors to divide the country", stressing that such a position is not directed personally against any domestic leader in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that it is an issue of interest to both countries.
"Dayton clearly says that the future of BiH is in Europe and that the country will evolve as much as is necessary for that to happen. The state building process that followed after the signing of Dayton and which over time resulted in reforms of the state structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina has always been and remains a part of Dayton," said O'Brien.
The Constitution, he emphasized, also states that all officials and institutions in BiH will adhere to European standards and international law as part of their official duties.
According to him, "it is the structure and fabric of the Constitution and any official who suggests that there is some other legal basis is departing from Dayton".
Stating that some politicians are now talking about the independence of the Republika Srpska or the "independence of the RS within Bosnia and Herzegovina" and envisioning controls on the inter-entity demarcation line, he warned that this is a "fictional 'original Dayton'", which would mean the return of roadblocks, harassment and barricades, which existed during the war.
"It is an absurd and bad law, but dangerous in reality," O'Brien pointed out, adding that BiH "risks missing the next train to Europe because of the personal interests of its political leaders."
The American official emphasized that BiH faces "the risk of division caused by secessionist threats from Republika Srpska", but he also directed harsh criticism at the account of the leader of the Croatian Democratic Union of BiH (HDZ BiH), Dragan Čović, and the president of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Bakir Izetbegović.
O'Brien accused Čović of blocking the Southern Gas Interconnection, that is, the gas pipeline from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"He (Čović) would replace the transmission system operator - an established owned company that has the technical expertise, resources and project documentation to execute the project, with a currently non-existent company that would be under his control and for his political and financial benefit. This is cynicism and is against the public interest," said the American official.
Stating that Mostar is still a "divided city and stuck in the past", O'Brien assessed that a leader who is truly committed to the European perspective of BiH would take steps to "heal the wounds of the past and promote reconciliation".
"Dragan Čović does not behave like that, and young people are leaving Herzegovina, looking for better opportunities elsewhere," he said.
He stated that in Bosnia and Herzegovina, instead of using money to finance better public services, that money disappears into private pockets or is used to maintain a large network of political support.
He also mentioned Sebija Izetbegović, the wife of SDA leader Bakir Izetbegović, who was recently dismissed from the position of director of the University Clinical Center in Sarajevo.
"During her tenure, doctors were pressured to support the SDA or were removed from their leadership positions. The agenda was focused on politics, not patient care. "SDA was also involved in the notorious respirator case, and when they were in power, SDA leaders exploited BH Telecom for personal gain and to strengthen their own support networks," said O'Brien.
He then mentioned the President of the RS, Milorad Dodik, and his party, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), who, as he stated, "have been directing contracts towards his family members and friends for years."
"There are numerous accusations of misconduct in various branches of industry in the RS, from non-competitive contracts, which were suspiciously awarded to companies controlled by his family, to Dodik's sanctioned media - Alternative Television," said O'Brien.
He mentioned that Dodik, after assuming the duties of the President of the RS, allocated himself a budget in the amount of 56,5 million convertible marks (28,7 million dollars), which is an increase of more than 400 percent compared to the previous year.
At the same time, he said, Dodik is looking for additional funds from outside BiH government institutions.
"After months of desperate attempts to secure funds from sources such as Russia, Hungary and China, Dodik pressured local banks to provide monetary support by issuing domestic bonds. They are equivalent to high-interest loans. This is not sustainable," the American official pointed out.
According to him, voters in the RS have the right to know how much they owe, what the funds will be spent on and how they will be returned, including whether any of the companies or assets owned by the RS have been used as collateral.
"Those who provide this money should know that we are monitoring everything carefully. "They should not take for granted that they will get their money back or that they will be able to take a pledge," said O'Brien.
He points out that these "financial shenanigans" are the reason that the US directs sanctions not only on anti-Dayton behavior and activities, but also on politicians, their family members and associates who get rich thanks to the political positions they hold.
"We will continue to use our powers when the security and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina are threatened, when there is a significant risk of obstructing the implementation of the Dayton Agreement or when there is credible evidence of corruption," O'Brien warned.
In his speech, the American official gave his full support to the Constitutional Court of BiH and the foreign judges in it, as well as to the high representative in BiH Kristijan Šmit and the use of "Bonn powers" when he deems it necessary.
O'Brien pointed out that BiH should enable and increase the four forms of freedom that exist in the EU - freedom of people, goods, services and capital.
"This implies the adoption of measures to stop mutual favoritism, which is all too typical for local politics, such as the recent extremely flawed agreement from Laktaš," he said.
According to him, BiH should abandon various types of vetoes, which are a hindrance to the functioning of institutions, stop asking for money outside institutions under non-transparent conditions, and end threats to the territorial integrity of BiH.
He also called for stronger cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO, as well as for the implementation of the reforms that the EU has set for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"Leaders here need to reach a compromise, refuse corruption and end ethno-nationalism. They should work for the benefit of the citizens of this country. None of this is easy or can be done quickly, but I truly believe that BiH can offer all its citizens a better, safer and more prosperous life", concluded the US Assistant Secretary of State.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
