EU decision to open accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina 'geopolitically justified': Official

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday hailed the European Council's decision to open accession negotiations as a "geopolitically justified decision."

"The people are in fear of any war. They want and deserve a commitment to peace and stability," Christian Schmidt told a UN Security Council meeting on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Acknowledging "the challenges and unfulfilled promises" faced in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Schmidt welcomed the European Council's decision, adding that it "gives the citizens a perspective that might strengthen a common effort on the way forward."

Noting significant depopulation as one of the challenges, he said the decision is "an encouragement to the citizens to stay rather than leave in dramatic numbers."

"With an annual depopulation rate of approximately 45,000 and a natural decrease through low fertility rate, Bosnia and Herzegovina may soon lose the key driver of change: its young and dynamic citizens. This is the main challenge," he said.

He described the EU's decision as "a watershed moment," but "a moment at stake."

Schmidt, who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Dayton Accords -- the 1995 peace agreement that ended the Bosnian war – said the agreement should be treated with "respect and fully implemented."

"The threats come from authorities of Republika Srpska but also others, which actively subvert the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its competences and institutions, and thus the Dayton Peace Agreement," he said.

Republika Srpska is one of two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Schmidt emphasized the "grave violation" of the Dayton Peace Agreement by Republika Srpska authorities. "If pursued, their anti-Dayton agenda will lead to the de facto secession of Republika Srpska. This is a scenario with grave consequences not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but for the whole region."

He noted the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as "fragile" and able to "deteriorate rapidly."

"The way forward starts from the understanding that Dayton and the EU reform path reinforce, rather than contradict, one another," he added.

On recent events, Schmidt expressed concern about reports alleging top military officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina paid tribute to convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic.

"If this is the case, it is a severe violation of the BiH (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Criminal Code," said Schmidt. "There is no way in any instance to accept such behavior because they are glorifying war criminals, which is unacceptable."

The UN Security Council declared Srebrenica a "safe area" in the spring of 1993. But troops led by Gen. Mladic overran the UN zone. He was later found guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

He stressed the importance of trust-building for sustainable peace and stability and condemned the denial of war crimes and the glorification of war criminals as tools of narrow political calculations.

"Denying the Srebrenica genocide and other war crimes, and glorifying war criminals, are not problems only in and of themselves," Schmidt added.