Sitemap

Comment by Boško Jakšić

Joyless Bosnia

CorD Recommends

Milojko Arsić, Professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics

Capacities Exist, But So Do Unknowns

Despite Serbia’s administrative capacities being smaller compared...

Milorad Filipović, Professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics

The Plan Is Good, But Not Generous

The Western Balkan countries’ public investment needs...

Bojana Selaković, Coordinator of Serbia’s National Convention On the European Union

Responsibility Is In Our Court

Considering that the European agenda now prioritises...

Comment By Dragiša Mijačić

Will Janus Open or Close the Doors to Kosovo Serbs?

January is named after Janus, Roman god...

Putin Wins Russian Election Decisively

Presidential candidate Vladimir Putin has won 87.26 percent of the vote based on 60 percent of the ballots counted,...

Vaughan Gething to Become First Black Welsh Premier and First Black Leader in Europe

Vaughan Gething is set to make history as the first black Premier of Wales following his victory in the...

New ENEF II Fund to Propel Growth in Western Balkans

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced the introduction of the Enterprise Expansion Fund II (ENEF...

European Parliament Passes Groundbreaking AI Law

The European Parliament has adopted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, aiming to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of...

Mariya Gabriel Endorses Horizon Europe’s Widening Measures to Bridge Research Gap Ahead of Bulgarian Premiership

Mariya Gabriel, set to ascend to Bulgaria's prime ministerial role in March, champions Horizon Europe's Widening measures as a...

The recent elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina provided new confirmation that there can be no inter-ethnic cooperation and multiculturalism while three constituent nations lead political parties that are based on pure nationalism, instead of on political programmes and ideas

Bosniak, Serb and Croat leaders are ready – purely for the sake of ensuring their survival in power – to prolong the disastrous, and dangerous, a situation that has made Bosnia-Herzegovina a dysfunctional country with a mammoth administration and has cast a shadow over its European integration prospects.

It has once again been confirmed that the extent to which national parties are capable of selling ethnic patriotism is only matched by their inability to offer citizens tangible solutions to their problems. An opportunity for a mandate to be given to reforms has again been missed.

From the Bosniak-Croat Federation to Republika Srpska, the echelons of candidates in this theatre of the absurd competed in mutual accusations, espousing corny phrases about the European future and speaking about continuity. It is sad that only one candidate made the economy a priority of his campaign.

Voters wondered if there can be an end to this continuity in a country where corruption, disrespect for the rule of law, poverty and a lack of political interest in improving citizens’ standard of living are the raw reality in a country that was abandoned last year alone by 60,000 people (Bosniaks and Serbs), leading to their diaspora becoming the largest in Europe.

The new three-member Presidency of B-H is a bleak announcement of the extension of the status quo, and – given the degree of animosity – a question arises as to whether the Bosniak, Serb and Croat who represent the collective presidency can even get together for coffee.

The threesome selected serve to grotesquely suggest that Bosnia will not have a place in the EU for a long time, and that life will not be better for its citizens for a long time. Bosniaks have no eyes to see the Serb member, who to date served as the President of Republika Srpska and who has for years, with the strong support of Moscow, issued separatist threats.

Zagreb is angry with the new Croat member of the Presidency – which it alleges was elected by the votes of Bosniaks – because he has announced that B-H will file a lawsuit against Croatia over a disputed bridge in the border region.

The Serb member of the Presidency is encouraging his Croatian colleague on the idea of his Herceg-Bosna becoming a third entity, and thus further destroying Bosniak dreams of a powerful unitary state, and applauding him for the lawsuit, but everything comes undone when the Croat considers that B-H should recognise the independence of Kosovo.

All combinations are in play, just as they were during the 1992-95 war when at certain times and in different locations Bosniaks and Croats were against Serbs, Serbs and Bosniaks were against Croats, and Serbs and Croats were against Bosniaks.

The endless nationalist posturing is not stopping, while there are no political reforms, the parliament is marginalised, and a new blockade of federal institutions is being threatened.

The echoes of unresolved ethnic conflicts are spreading throughout the region and beyond, with each player finding allies beyond the borders of B-H: enchanted by the pan-Erdogan movement, Bosniak leaders see their salvation in Ankara, while Bosnian Serbs see theirs in Belgrade and Moscow, and Bosnian-Croats look to Zagreb.

The B-H elections confirmed the existence of conflicting interests of foreign powers in the Western Balkans, which is turning into a “crawling Cold War” in which, unlike the previous one, there are more than two stakeholders.

However, Bosnia has a solution: kick out the nationalists, replace them with politicians who have policies – leftist, rightist, centrist, whatever. Multipolarity will ensure more effective interethnic cooperation and multiculturalism.

How much can the EU help Bosnia, and the whole of the Western Balkans? For now, only a little. Brussels will first have to redefine what the EU is, on which principles and values it is based. For now, we have two proposals: a liberal and an illiberal Union. I’m afraid that the second option has more followers among the region’s nationalists and populists.

Related Articles

Electric Power Companies of Republika Srpska and Montenegro Plan to Establish a Joint Company

The management boards of the electric power companies of Republika Srpska and Montenegro have initiated the formation of a joint company based in Trebinje,...

United Front on Energy and Environment: Balkan Ministers Pledge Cooperation

In a landmark summit, the energy and mining ministers of Montenegro, the Republic of Srpska, and Serbia united to deliberate on ways to enhance...

Southeast Europe Unites in Support for Ukraine at Tirana Summit

In a striking demonstration of unity from Tirana, Southeast European leaders, together with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenski, have collectively declared their support for Ukraine's...

2023 Trade Update: BiH Faces €6.58 Billion Deficit, Major Imports from Croatia

In the past year, Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced a significant trade deficit of approximately €6.58 billion, according to the Indirect Taxation Authority. The country's...

Bosnia’s Golden Opportunity: New Mine to Boost Economy by Billions

Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the brink of an economic surge with the inauguration of a colossal gold mine, anticipated to export gold valued...

EU and U.S. Urge Western Balkans to Pursue EU Membership

During the EU-Western Balkans summit hosted by the "Friends of Europe" think tank in Brussels, Miroslav Lajčak, the EU's Special Representative for Dialogue, emphasized...

EU Seeks Expansion: Greenlights Talks with Ukraine, Moldova

The European Commission has adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package, providing a detailed assessment of the progress and current state of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,...

Restoration of Direct Payments between Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia Set for November

Direct financial transactions between Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are poised to recommence in November after a gap of 16 years. The move,...