prijava
SARAJEVO, December 15 (FENA) - Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić and Šefik Džaferović did not meet today in Sarajevo with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is in an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, although the original protocol provided for Lavrov to be officially received by all three members of the Presidency of BiH.
Unlike Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik, with whom Lavrov first met yesterday in East Sarajevo upon his arrival in BiH, Komšić and Džaferović refused to host him in the state presidency today because, as they said at an extraordinary press conference, Lavrov disrespected the institutions and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina at yesterday's meeting with Dodik.
Komšić explained that the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina was not displayed on that occasion, which, in his opinion, is not a mere mistake of the protocol, but a humiliation, a denial of BiH state institutions, which Lavrov knows very well as an experienced and very well informed diplomat.
In addition, according to Komšić, Lavrov, in a meeting with Dodik, welcomed the Resolution of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska on the so-called military neutrality, which is a decision that can only be made by the state level, not the entity level.
These are just two examples that speak of humiliation, denial of BiH institutions, Komšić added and stated that Lavrov is very well acquainted with political relations not only in this region.
“We ask the Russian Federation to respect the institutions of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, unfortunately, is not the case now,” said Komšić, stating that similar views were expressed last night on the Facebook page of the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Minister.
Komšić explains that he and Džaferović made the decision not to host Lavrov with regret, and that this option prevailed in considering whether to go to the announced meeting and express their opinion. The decision to refuse to receive the Russian foreign minister sends a stronger message, according to the two members of Bosnia and Herzegovina's state presidency.
Šefik Džaferović said at the extraordinary press conference that in that way, the dignity and pride of Bosnia and Herzegovina were preserved.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a world power, but it is an important country. Yesterday, Lavrov expressed views that have been repeated for a long time in the behavior of the Russian ambassador to BiH,” Džaferović also said.
When asked by a journalist what the expected reaction of the Russian Federation can be after such a development, Džaferović answered that he expects full respect for the Dayton Agreement from the Russian side.
And respect for that agreement, according to his further allegations, implies respect for all annexes, i.e. the fact that the flag and coat of arms are symbols of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The institution of the High Representative in BiH is also one of the annexes, emphasizes the member of the Presidency of BiH.
“A High Representative is needed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, his departure is advocated by the secession forces. He cannot leave until the Constitution is changed and conditions are created for the normal functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dayton Agreement also means respecting the laws and decisions of the state of BiH, and one of them is about the commission on NATO integration and Bosnia and Herzegovina's commitment to NATO membership. All these decisions were challenged yesterday,” said Šefik Džaferović.
The decision of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its construction as a multiethnic community, on respect for the rights of all, on economic and political reforms, commitment to membership in the European Union and NATO, cannot be questioned, said the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović. Komšić added that Milorad Dodik, that is, the political option he represents, also participated in making such decisions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With due respect to the Russian Federation, with which BiH wants to have good relations, as well as Lavrov personally, "we do not agree to be Russian pawns in the Balkans" in its relations with international partners, concluded Željko Komšić at this extraordinary press conference.
(FENA) L. N.
