JOVANOVIĆ: ENCOURAGING TO SEE RUSSIA AND THE US MOVE CLOSER ON THE NEED FOR BiH TO MAKE ITS OWN DECISIONS WITHOUT OUTSIDE TUTELAGE

BELGRADE, OCTOBER 31 /SRNA/ - Former Yugoslav Foreign Minister Živadin Jovanović told SRNA that it was encouraging to see, at the UN Security Council session on BiH, a convergence of US and Russian positions on the need for domestic institutions to take responsibility for the situation, the resolution of problems and the future of BiH, which he described as the most principled and best approach.

He pointed out that, instead of facilitating the transition, German and some other representatives in BiH had actually prevented the institutions of BiH and its entities from assuming responsibility for years, and that this now appears to be coming to an end. "I can only express the hope that this trend toward ending the tutelary relationship and the tutelary policies pursued by certain European countries, above all Germany, will be brought to a close and become part of history rather than remain a feature of the present, let alone the future," Jovanović said. Jovanović reminded that Russia had insisted from the very beginning on ending the mandate of the High Representative for BiH, and that former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević, back during the first meetings devoted to the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, had said that this was a very temporary position and that the institutions of BiH and its entities needed to assume responsibility for the situation, resolving problems and the development of BiH. "Even then, he foresaw that the High Representative could only make the transition process more difficult and hinder the stabilization and realization of the potential that exists among the parties in BiH. It is good that Russia has supported this position from the very beginning and continues to adhere to it consistently today, and all the reasons for this have now become entirely clear," he said. He emphasized that it was encouraging and should be welcomed as a positive development that "the U.S. was evolving its stance on issues important to BiH". He pointed out that the previous U.S. position had been aligned with that of European countries and the European Union /EU/. "I believe this is the result of their global assessment that Europe is pursuing the wrong policy under the influence of its most powerful countries, above all Germany. While it was clear to us, to our people and to Republika Srpska that German and other representatives were behaving like overlords and gauleiters, evoking memories of certain periods in the past, this was less clear to others, including the United States," Jovanović said. He stressed that now, with Christian Schmidt finally removed under that influence and a temporary solution found in the form of an American representative, the positive influence of the United States is gaining significance.