Izetbegovic: US has moved away from “blacklists” and sanctions, SDA faces two battles

Speaking in Sarajevo as the SDA marked 36 years since its founding, Izetbegović said Bosnia and Herzegovina had seen setbacks in several areas, including the economy and security.

He said the SDA now faces two political battles.

“The first is easier and it concerns the October elections. SDA must defeat the ‘Troika’ and the cluster of parties around it, otherwise this situation will deepen and become worse. The ‘Troika’ and Denis Becirovic must go, otherwise it will not be good for the country,” Izetbegović said.

He described the second battle, after the elections, as much more difficult, saying the first year would have to be spent repairing damage caused by what he called a serious regression in the country.

Asked by N1 to comment on High Representative Christian Schmidt’s statement that he would soon leave office due to US pressure, Izetbegovic said he believed the move was wrong.

“I think the pressure on him to resign is a mistake because it will give wings to Dodik, who will claim it as his victory and then grow stronger again,” he said.

Izetbegovic said he had spoken with the American side, adding that US officials argued their approach was aimed at stabilising the Western Balkans.

“They say everything is aimed at stabilising the situation in the Western Balkans and that they no longer want to proceed with ‘blacklists’ and sanctions. Dodik did withdraw laws that were an attack on the constitutional order,” he said.

Izetbegovic warned that efforts may now be made to “completely passivise” the Office of the High Representative before Bosnia and Herzegovina is left without the OHR altogether.

Without the High Representative, he argued, the Dayton system cannot function because it contains too many built-in blockages.

“Without the High Representative, we would not have a currency, a passport, an anthem, the judiciary… Removing the OHR is playing with fire unless domestic mechanisms are created to replace it,” Izetbegovic said.