In the wake of three decades since the Dayton Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to face significant political, constitutional, and economic challenges, according to experts gathered at an international conference whose findings were compiled into a publication by the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The authors warn that wartime human losses and long-term displacement have left deep consequences on the economy and labor market, urging constitutional reforms, accelerated European integration, continuation of the EUFOR mission, and maintaining the active role of the Office of the High Representative in the country's stabilization and reform process.
The publication highlights the need to align the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina with rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, strengthen the functionality of institutions, and more precisely define the responsibilities between different levels of government. It also proposes forming an international expert group to prepare a draft of a new constitution.
"The three criteria would be subject to broad public debate so that citizens can express their views on all these matters, after which this proposal would be submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly, which should carry out the drafting of a new constitution," said Kasim Trnka, a specialist in constitutional law.
It was emphasized that during the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost tens of thousands of lives, while hundreds of thousands of citizens were forced to leave the country. The consequences of this process are still visible today through aging population, lack of qualified workforce, and continuous departure of young and educated individuals.
"These are great sacrifices and they are difficult to assess quantitatively, meaning to assess them in money, but the losses of Bosnia and Herzegovina, both human and material capital loss, are at least three times greater than the resources invested in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Fikret Čaušević, a correspondent member of ANUBiH.
Particular emphasis was placed on the continued operation of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), with close cooperation with the Special Representative of the European Union. The authors of the recommendations believe that exactly coordinated actions of international actors could help achieve the necessary political consensus for implementing reforms and progress on the European path.
"Bosnia and Herzegovina, for several reasons, geopolitical and other internal ones, needs the institution of the High Representative, but its activities would be adapted to the main goal - which is conducting negotiations for membership, providing assistance, and ensuring acceleration," said Mirko Pejanović, an academician.
The importance of continuing the EUFOR Althea mission was also highlighted, noting that it represents an important factor in preventing possible destabilizing processes and provides additional guarantees for maintaining peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to ANUBiH, the compilation represents an attempt to provide guidelines based on scientific analyses and experiences from the past three decades for building a functional state, sustainable economic development, and a successful European future for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At a meeting of the Council of Chairmen of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) held in Tešanj, President of the party Bakir Izetbegović addressed the attendees. During his speech, Izetbegović spoke about the economic results of Tešanj, as well as the political and social situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with criticism directed towards the current government.
At the beginning, he praised the mayor of the municipality of Tešanj, Suad Huskić, for the continuous strengthening of the local economy. He pointed out that the latest data on fiscal turnover show strong growth.
"Tešanj has caught up and surpassed some administrative centers that have twice or thrice as many inhabitants and yet are preferred as administrative centers. So indeed, Tešanj is an example that should be followed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina," said the leader of SDA.
Relying on one's own capacities
Izetbegović then commented on the broader situation in the country, assessing that the challenges Bosnia and Herzegovina faces today are among the most difficult since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. He emphasized that global circumstances directly affect Bosnia and Herzegovina and that it must abandon the expectation that others will solve domestic problems.
"Thirty years have passed since the end of the war. Some actors who were strongly with us have gone away. There is also fatigue among the international community. New hotspots have opened. We are witnessing brutality from the powerful and large. We must understand that we first need to rely on ourselves and our own strength," Izetbegović conveyed.
Speaking about the role of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), implementation of the Dayton Agreement, and rule of law, Izetbegović assessed that the conditions set out in the 5+2 Program are not sufficient to close the OHR. He believes the key lies in establishing domestic mechanisms that would prevent institutional blockages.
"They can block whatever they want. The OHR has used Bonn powers over 800 times to prevent this. And now they say we should agree. If they leave us like that, we would enter a stalemate, and that should not happen," he said.
Integration and Economy
As priorities, he listed electoral victory, strengthening political stability, and returning, as he said, experienced and decisive political forces. He particularly emphasized the need to accelerate Euro-Atlantic integration, strengthen diplomacy and lobbying, including greater involvement of the diaspora.
He stressed that focus must be placed on economic development, infrastructure, and employment, through accelerated construction of roads, energy facilities, railways, and airports.
Consequences of the Three-party Government
A special part of Izetbegović's address was devoted to the current government led by the Three-party alliance, emphasizing that they have done so much bad that citizens will easily decide against them in upcoming elections. As one of the worst outcomes of their work, he mentioned placing Bosnia and Herzegovina on the gray list of Moneyval.
"Bosnia and Herzegovina ended up on that gray list because they don't want to register company owners, to know who the real owners are and who the connected persons are. Because of that, the people will suffer. They have created so many problems that it is hard even to count them. They have brought us to depression and uncertainty," warned Izetbegović.
Finally, he added that the candidate of the Three-party alliance for the position of Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is actually "a float on which they hold on," and warned that if he remains in that position, the Three-party alliance will remain.
BA
