CVIJANOVIĆ: BIH’S EUROPEAN PATH WITH EU SUPPORT AND WITHOUT THIRD-PARTY INTERFERENCE

SARAJEVO, MAY 13 /SRNA/ – Serb member and Chairperson of the BiH Presidency, Željka Cvijanović, has stated today in Sarajevo that BiH faces complex tasks, and that she expects more understanding from the EU, including consideration of the real obstacles the country is facing.

"I expect the EU to make progress and recognize BiH as a credible enough country, with its own institutions capable of doing the job independently, without outside interference or interventions that would throw the country from one crisis into another," Cvijanović told reporters after the meeting of the BiH Presidency members with the President of the European Council, António Costa. She thanked Costa for his visit and the meeting during which issues of interest to both BiH and the EU were discussed, as well as for the understanding and encouragement the EU is offering to help BiH move further along the European path. “We each presented him with our own views on what is really happening. Perhaps the progress isn’t at the level we, or the EU representatives, would like,” Cvijanović noted. She emphasized that BiH can build its European path with its own institutions that can make credible decisions on one hand, and the EU on the other. “There is no place for third-party interventions here, including Christian Schmidt,” Cvijanović stressed. She said that BiH is facing complex challenges. “Some were previously addressed during the period when we were able to reach agreements and made some progress. I regret that we did not reach the stage of opening accession negotiations. Costa reminded us of the EU’s expectations,” Cvijanović stressed. She explained that the current standstill and institutional crisis arose due to unauthorized, unconstitutional, and non-Dayton interventions by an unelected foreign official. “With the EU’s support, we can renew all efforts and activities through credible, democratic institutions fulfilling their duties among domestic actors—without impositions,” Cvijanović said.