hr flag go to the original language article
This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by HINA.

Konaković wrote to the EU, warns of Russian influence

by AI | 12.Aug 2024 | Europe in brief AI

SARAJEVO – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković warned on Friday that Russia’s influence in his country and the region is greater than ever before, and […]

Zagreb, 20.06.2023. - Inaugural conference of the Croatian presidency of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region and the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative. In the photo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Elmedin Konaković. photo HINA/ Lana SLIVAR DOMINIĆ/ lsd

SARAJEVO – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković warned on Friday that Russia’s influence in his country and the region is greater than ever before, and therefore the West must respond with increased engagement, including maintaining the Office of the High Representative (OHR) with full powers.

“I responsibly claim that there is more malign influence (of Russia) in Bosnia and Herzegovina than ever, and it still exists in the region,” said Konaković in a statement to the Klix portal.

He warned that Russian influence is especially visible through the actions of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who is, as he says, moving further away from European circles.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina made this statement while facing attacks due to a letter he sent to the member states of the Peace Implementation Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PIC) and the bodies of the European Union.

In it, he requested that the operation of the OHR be ensured and that this institution be retained with existing executive powers until the goals and conditions set back in 2008 are met, which include the assessment that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is completely safe and stable.

The High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina has the authority to impose laws and dismiss elected officials, which particularly bothers Russia, which fully supports the efforts of politicians from the Bosnian Serb community to close the OHR as soon as possible so that they can implement the policy of weakening Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state without fear of sanctions.

Konaković said that he sent the letter requesting the stay of the OHR because he became aware that there are “whispers and voices” in the EU that wanted to open the topic of abolishing the position of the High Representative, and he openly warned about this at the last meeting of foreign ministers of the Union member states held in Luxembourg.

“There are prescribed conditions (for closing the OHR), it is necessary to stabilize relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and only then possibly consider what the representatives from the RS are saying. And what they are saying forces us to protect the OHR at all costs,” said Konaković. (August 9, 2024)