The West has begun to pay more attention to Bosnia and the region considering the recent visit by the CIA Deputy Director and Monday’s visit of NATO Commander James Foggo to Bosnia, while a recent meeting between Western Balkan leaders in Berlin sent a positive message regarding EU expansion, political analyst Adnan Huskic told N1 on Monday.
CIA’s Deputy Director Vaughn Bishop arrived in Sarajevo last week to talk to Bosnia’s senior security officials about, among other things, the battle against terrorism and corruption.
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The NATO Allied Joint Force Command Naples Commander James Foggo also came to Bosnia on Monday.
“Obviously, the recent visits show that more attention is being paid to Bosnia and Herzegovina and this region in the West. Whether this is a changed approach or an approach with some new impulse and energy – that cannot be said at this point,” Huskic said.
“The West figured out that this region cannot be left without help as that is wrong, and this could be a sign of some new kind of approach,” he said, noting that the West has identified problems with foreign influences in Bosnia and that this was why US intelligence agencies are visiting the country.
He also commented on the recent meeting of Western Balkan leaders in Berlin, which was organised by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The focus there, Huskic said, was mostly on the issues between Belgrade and Pristina.
“We were marginal in Berlin, which is not bad. The very fact that the Balkans were given some space just before the European election shows that Germany nevertheless prevailed in maintaining the narrative on (EU) expansion,” he said.
“If we lose the perspective of membership we lose everything that was a quality engine for changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU until now always served as a kind of ‘lighthouse’ for the direction we are going towards and that is why the messages that were coming from France, that there will be no further expansion, were very damaging for us,” Huskic said.
Bosnia's Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week signed a revised Free Trade Agreement between the two countries and a Memorandum of understanding on the construction of Sarajevo-Belgrade highway in Ankara.
According to Huskic, if what was agreed there is implemented, it would be great for the country as it is necessary to “maintain good relations and have contacts with countries which have an influence here.”
“This is an important visit because, after a long time, we have a constructive relationship between Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.
Turkey is trying to relax the relations in the region through infrastructure projects, Huskic said, calling it “the right path.”
