This weekend apparently the “big guns” in the discussion on the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina are coming together to (again) once and for all move out of the gridlock that the nationalist politicians are creating in the country.
For the last 15 years, these kind of talks have been perpetually convened, with the world’s best and the brightest when it comes to what Bosnia needs in the future? Let me restate that - what the Bosnian people need in the future.
What Bosnian people do not need is politicians speaking on behalf of them.
1. The political leaders have not made much progress in terms of developing the country and fostering economic productivity in the country. In fact, most of the time they intentionally stall and obstruct the process, so it’s more than just incompetence that is responsible for the situation.
2. As representative of the people, the political leaders have failed to fulfill their duties to the citizens of Bosnia.
The political leaders are elected by the people, and have the duty to represent their best interest. The political leaders do not represent the views of ALL Bosnian people, nor do they often represent the interest of their own “people.” Fifteen years after the Dayton peace agreement, our “leaders” still need to be “convened” by an external actor in order to be able to talk about the future of the country in a civilized manner. They have failed to fulfill their duty clearly.
3. Electoral system’s validity under international law is dubious. On top of that, it has obviously ineffective. It has failed to produce a system of government that will move the country toward progress.
Whatever the final conclusion ends up being on the validity of the Dayton obligations under international law, the reality is, those at the table should have created a different electoral system. The system as designed is not conducive to generating the enabling environment necessary for any improvement of the quality of life of its citizens.
The people of Bosnia must be at the table when the future of the country is discussed. They have positions on the issues that will be discussed, because they will affect their lives directly. And they have the right to be heard. The conveners in Butmir - the EU, US, once again are attempting to “fix Bosnia,” once again, by doing the same thing they did before, and before…
Times have changed, there are now political and practical reasons for getting the people involved. The economic crisis is affecting the entire world. Coming to a solution that will set in motion a process toward positive change will allow the country to become a productive and contributing member of the international community, diverging less and creating more domestic resources.
Moreover, if any agreement is to be arrived at in Butmir, it should NOT have permanent legal obligations. It should call for a broad-based participatory process to ensure that all issues related to the future of the country’s governing system are decided with the full involvement of those whose lives are at stake here - the Bosnian citizens. All of them.
The political leaders should not be allowed to be the only voices speaking for the Bosnians in Butmir.
