ZOVKO: FEDERALISM IS THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR BiH ON ITS PATH TO THE EU

ZAGREB, DECEMBER 12 /SRNA/ - Member of the European Parliament Željana Zovko stated today in Zagreb that federalism is the only solution that could pull BiH out of the crisis and guide the country toward the European path.

At the international conference “30 Years After Dayton: Opening the Path to Local Solutions,” Zovko emphasized that BiH cannot join the EU while the OHR /Office of the High Representative/ is in place. "MEPs are aware of the situation in BiH and that there is no willingness to open the discussion on restructuring the country. The principle of power-sharing functions in some European countries, such as Belgium, which would be beneficial for BiH," Zovko said. She also stated that she was verbally attacked by the former head of the Islamic Community in BiH, Mustafa Cerić, who accused her of being against Muslims, which she has never been. "When I talk about political Sarajevo, I mean the part that cannot recognize the political reality in Europe. Unfortunately, all efforts by European parliamentarians to make BiH functional do not resonate well in the country," Zovko said. She added that her goal is to help BiH become a full member of the EU. "Unfortunately, BiH is sinking deeper into a crisis. Something in BiH must change for the three peoples and other citizens to find a way to function," Zovko said. She also recalled that the federalization of BiH was already mentioned back in 2014. "That is a European concept. How federalism would look is up to an agreement among the three constituent peoples," Zovko said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, Elmedin Konaković, said that he is not opposed to the closure of the OHR in BiH, but that the current situation is not such that this could happen. "We have never fulfilled the conditions for closing the OHR in BiH, and that alone is a sufficient reason for it still being here. I am not someone who believes that BiH can be a unitary state, but I cannot allow anyone to play with the institutions," Konaković said.