Konaković: All peoples in BiH must be equal, and Bosniaks are damaged

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković has asserted that all three constituent nations, Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs, must enjoy equal status within the country, emphasizing that Bosniaks have been disproportionately disadvantaged in political representation. Speaking ahead of a conference titled "The Status of Constituent Nations and Others in Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Konaković highlighted that this issue had become a focal point following Croatia’s adoption of a resolution on July 15 aimed at strengthening the political position of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The minister criticized the misuse of the equality narrative during election periods and expressed disappointment that leaders of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Croatia did not attend the Sarajevo conference, which was attended solely by MP Dalija Orešković. Konaković pointed out that the legal question surrounding the position of a Croat member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Presidency requires discussion, but he emphasized alarming data showing that Bosniaks hold fewer positions than they should given their majority population. He cited statistics indicating that in 36 state-level institutions with 12 leading positions each, the distribution among the three national groups is roughly equal despite differences in population size. This pattern, he noted, persists even in municipalities where Bosniaks form the majority. He warned that demographic trends show Bosnia and Herzegovina is losing population, with rising mortality rates and migration, yet these issues remain unaddressed publicly. Konaković questioned the outcomes of debates over legitimate representation, asking whether such discussions have yielded tangible results. He called on Croatia to continue supporting reforms aimed at ensuring fair elections and allowing each constituent nation to elect its representatives. Croatia’s parliament passed the resolution following pressure from the Homeland Movement, urging the Croatian government to support efforts to achieve full political equality for Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina through electoral system reforms. The resolution specifically endorsed proposals for establishing a special electoral unit where Croat voters would elect their representative to the Presidency, while opposing any form of electoral manipulation or misrepresentation of Croats in government bodies. MP Dalija Orešković, who opposed the resolution, stated she believed sending political messages from one parliament to another’s electoral system was inappropriate. She argued against the resolution due to its sponsorship by a party promoting historical revisionism perceived as harmful to Croatia. Orešković emphasized the need for genuine dialogue among the three constituent nations without fostering hostility. The Sarajevo conference drew primarily Bosniak politicians and legal experts, with HDZ Bosnia and Herzegovina represented by Zdenko Ćosić, a member of the House of Representatives. Ćosić acknowledged the importance of addressing the equitable representation of constituent nations, stating it is a challenge facing the entire country, though Croats bear the greatest burden. He advocated for ensuring true equality and representation, expressing concern that attention is diverted from real problems toward ethnic counting. When asked about the possibility of creating a third entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ćosić indicated it could be acceptable.