TRIŠIĆ BABIĆ: KONAKOVIĆ USED WASHINGTON PLATFORM FOR TARGETING SRPSKA, WHILE IGNORING OWN POLITICAL HYPOCRISY

BANJA LUKA, JULY 17 /SRNA/ – Elmedin Konaković’s appearance in Washington once again showed what has long been clear - that he has never spoken on behalf of BiH, but exclusively on behalf of his own political ambitions and political party, acting director of the Office for International Cooperation of Republika Srpska Ana Trišić Babić said in a statement to SRNA.

"Presenting personal or party positions as the voice of an entire country is not an act of statesmanship, but an attempt to misuse office for personal political promotion before international interlocutors," Trišić Babić stressed. She said it was even more irresponsible that Konaković was speaking about terrorism, particularly politically motivated terrorism, while completely ignoring what comes from the political environment to which he himself belongs. "It is impossible to ignore the fact that his party organized and encouraged support for anti-Semitic actions and positions of official institutions directed against the Conference of European Rabbis. This sent a message to the entire world that Sarajevo is not what certain political circles attempt to portray it as - a symbol of openness and religious tolerance, but rather an environment where dangerous and discriminatory patterns of behavior are still tolerated,” Trišić Babić pointed out. She stated that it was particularly concerning that individuals who promoted such policies had faced no consequences, but instead remained part of the government, continued to hold ministerial positions and remained close political partners of Elmedin Konaković. "For that reason, his messages about fighting extremism appear selective, unconvincing and deeply hypocritical," she says. "If he were a serious politician, Konaković would understand that international reputation is not built by reporting on one's own country, dramatizing issues and making unfounded accusations. Serious politics requires arguments, responsibility and the ability to seek solutions, rather than presenting political disagreements to international addresses as a substitute for dialogue within institutions," Trišić Babić said. She pointed out that Konaković’s appearance in Washington did not demonstrate political strength, but rather a lack of capacity to offer serious and sustainable answers to the challenges BiH is facing. "At a time that requires responsibility, stability and maturity, Konaković offered another performance instead of politics and another accusation instead of a solution. In a world that needs solutions more than ever, he is counting the final days of his ego tourism, while Milorad Dodik remains an unavoidable partner and interlocutor at all the most important places," Trišić Babić said.