On very kind lead of the U.S. Embassy in B&H and in benevolent friendly gesture of allied Bosnian politicians, Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina gathered yesterday in Sarajevo to convene and discuss preparations for the forthcoming visit of esteemed Joseph Biden, vice-president of U.S. Although initiated with best intentions, it ended with embarrassment for Bosnian hosts and minor political scandal.
As previously announced, vice-president Biden is going to arrive in one-day visit to Sarajevo on May 19.
Committee of Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina was supposed to be acquainted yesterday with some details concerning the visit and reach the agreement on meeting with vice-president Biden. But Serb business as usual erected a scandalous barricade in a way of smooth and routine preparations for a visit. Milorad Živković, deputy president of the House of Representatives in Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina, declined his consent stating this issue requires further discussions with one of the entities – namely so called RS – furthermore with leadership of SNSD and Milorad Dodik! (an individual currently under investigation for embezzlement http://www.bosnjaci.net/prilog.php?rid=1&pid=33923). Quite appropriately, America’s head diplomat in Bosnia, h.e. Embassador Charles English didn’t bother with the local complexity of the entity system in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Rightly judging the State Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina to be his only partner in any dialogue between State of Bosnia-Herzegovina and U.S., he has immediately left the meeting after Mr. Živković’s inappropriate suggestion. Just like almost every one of his predecessors, English has also with this move unequivocally promoted statehood of Bosnia-Herzegovina and clearly acknowledged to everybody that the only partner of US in any dialogue between two countries is only State of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Accordingly, it has come to our knowledge that the meetings between U.S. vice-president Biden with the leaders of Bosnia-Herzegovina and others included in protocol will take place in the building of the Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina only.
It is very encouraging that even through these minor protocol issues U.S. diplomacy continues to support State of Bosnia-Herzegovina, today the most reliable U.S. ally beside Turkish Republic in the region of Balkans. But Bosnia-Herzegovina’s loyal citizens and Bosniak diaspora can’t help asking themselves: how much longer do we have to endure blemishes, blunders and blame for stupidities not of our own making?
