BiH Presidency member Becirovic warns of threats to peace in Liberation Op-Ed

In the article, Becirovic warns that authorities in Republika Srpska (RS), one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entities, are endangering peace by intensifying actions that could lead to renewed violence. He underscores that these actions, conducted in coordination with Moscow and Belgrade, pose a grave threat not only to Bosnia but to European stability as a whole.

"Authorities in Republika Srpska are making dangerous moves that openly threaten the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Shockingly, they have even established an illegal body tasked with dismantling the state and undermining the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement. In addition, the RS Assembly has adopted several anti-Dayton laws and decisions. These activities could pave the way for armed conflict and new tragedies, which is why the West must respond decisively, concretely, and urgently," Becirovic states.

The op-ed points out that major Western nations have already imposed sanctions on RS leaders due to their nationalist policies that undermine both domestic and regional stability. The European Parliament has also passed multiple resolutions calling on EU member states to adopt similar measures.

In his appeal, Becirovic emphasizes the critical role of France, one of the witnesses to the Dayton Agreement, in defending this international accord. "France has an international obligation to protect the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement and must take concrete steps to condemn its violation," he urges.

Becirovic also reflects on Bosnia’s progress in the post-war era, made possible through international support, including unifying its defence, judicial, and tax systems. Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina is striving to join the European Union and NATO, which Becirovic identifies as the country’s strategic foreign policy goals. However, he warns that pro-Russian forces in Republika Srpska are obstructing these efforts, threatening the gains achieved over decades.

The op-ed further highlights rulings from the highest UN courts, which have confirmed that the 1995 Srebrenica massacre constituted genocide, carried out by the RS police and military. It also mentions Serbia’s breach of the UN Genocide Convention. Becirovic laments that the same ideologies responsible for these crimes are once again jeopardizing Bosnia’s stability.

Becirovic accuses Serbia’s leadership of aggressive interference in Bosnia’s internal affairs. He cites the declaration adopted at the so-called All-Serbian Assembly in Belgrade in June 2024 as evidence of this interference, describing it as a direct attack on Bosnia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. According to Becirovic, the ultimate aim of Serbia’s leadership is to annex Republika Srpska into a “Greater Serbia,” a project that threatens not only Bosnia but European stability as a whole. He stresses the importance of respecting the principle of inviolable borders.

As Becirovic writes, "France is a proven friend of multiethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina. I thank France for everything it has done and continues to do for the peace and security of all citizens in my country."

He concludes with a stark warning to Western nations: "The West has the tools and mechanisms to prevent the spread of conflicts from Ukraine to the Western Balkans. It is crucial not to repeat the mistakes of the 1990s when the West reacted only after the genocide of Bosniaks in the heart of Europe. NATO, with its international mandate, must protect the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement, ensuring peace, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

The op-ed, published in Liberation, serves as a direct call to action for Western powers to confront the destabilizing forces threatening Bosnia and the broader region.