Bosnia is today less seen as an equal party on the international scene than before, and the country does not have a bright future in a world of nationalism, Bosnia’s former Ambassador in the UN, Muhamed Sacirbegovic, told N1 on Wednesday.

Sacirbegovic commented on the speech the Chairman of Bosnia’s Presidency, Zeljko Komsic, gave at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

“I think we should ask ourselves whether there is any use of a speech by someone who represents Bosnia and Herzegovina in the United Nations, as the entire situation in the world has changed,” Sacirbegovic said.

“In the times of Trump and Putin, multilateral relations don’t mean anything. Trump himself said that there is no place for globalisation, as this is a world of nationalism,” he said.

According to the former diplomat, the question arises whether it is better if the Presidency Chairman goes to “Washington, Moscow or Ankara” or to Brussels and New York to seek a future for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Throughout the years, there were times when “some forces” tried to minimise Bosnia and prevent the country from becoming part of the family of nations, he explained.

“Had they managed to do so, we would be in the same situation today as Kosovo, or even worse – Palestine – is in. Now we have a voice, but whether anybody is listening is questionable,” he said.

Sacirbegovic said he is “afraid of the world Trump is talking about.”

“We know what it was like with nationalism 70 years ago and we saw it in Yugoslavia 25-30 years ago,” he said.

“When I spoke in the UN, I spoke as a person who represents Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also as an American. I spoke as a person who sees Bosnia’s future which is compatible with the values in the US,” Sacirbegovic said, but added that “now, America and toda's Washington are not that compass anymore,” he stressed.

Other countries now expect Bosnia to turn to them, although “at one time we were equal” with them on the international scene, he said.

“Bosnia is slowly failing in the context of equality, and if you are not equal with others that is a problem for the future. If you are not equal – then you only beg,” he said.