A really bad idea
I imagine in Brussels they are congratulating themselves today for Republika Srpska (RS) President Dodik agreeing to postpone the referendum he was threatening, in exchange for “structured talks” with the European Union on the future of judicial institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Why is this a bad idea? Let me count the ways:
- Postponement leaves the threat of the referendum hanging, providing continued leverage to Dodik from a proposition that clearly violates letter and spirit of the Dayton agreements.
- Agreeing to discuss Bosnia’s judicial system with the RS undermines the authority of the prosecutors and judges at what Bosnians call the “state” level (national to Americans, but that means something else in Bosnia).
- Using the enlargement commissioner of the EU to conduct these talks could open the door to de facto negotiations on implementation of the EU’s acquis communitaire with the RS.
To make matters worse, the EU’s top foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, is reported to have said, “We consider that any legitimate issues require an adequate response.” And to seal the EU’s groveling, she added, “We welcome your leadership, Mister President.”
Why wasn’t Dodik told to go discuss the issues he is raising with the Bosnian government in Sarajevo? Why wasn’t any EU discussion of judicial reform undertaken a the state level? Of course, that would have required that Dodik also be told to get on with government formation (it has been 7 months since elections under a caretaker government). EU use of its leverage to that end would have been a very good idea. Allowing Brussels to become an instrument of Dodik’s campaign to enhance the autonomy of RS and demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the Sarajevo government is a really bad idea.
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3 thoughts on “A really bad idea”
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I totally agree with you that talks with just one entity are counterproductive and dangerous. Any involvement should be aimed in helping Bosnia become a coherent and sovereign entity. This can be accomplished only by dealing with the state level institutions.
On a more hopeful note … Some commentators in Serbia are viewing this as a humiliating defeat not only for Dodik personally, but for the RS as well. As the down-hearted Serbs pointed out, discussions on the courts are a normal part of pre-accession talks, so the Serbs really haven’t gained anything, and were forced to give up the referendum Dodik said he would not retreat on.
After WWII, all the US wanted from Europe was that its citizens become fat and happy and UNWARLIKE. So now we have a continent of people whose greatest interest in life is going on vacation – do we have any right to complain that their bureaucrats aren’t the type to knock heads that clearly need knocking? And maybe it’s time for a new Secretary of State?
It’s part of the genetic code of an American, I think, to look for positive signs in any outcome. So I seem to have been totally wrong in trying to find some hope in the EU-Dodik negotiation. Daring him do his damndest would probably be the best approach, but that’s not in the EU genetic code.
As for the usefulness of negotiations, you said recently (here? the B92 interview?) that it would be good for Stefanovic to go to Prishtina and see democracy at work there. What he came back to report in Politika is that he saw that democracy is not working in Kosovo (the demonstration against his presence). With all the bad-mouthing Serbs do of Kosovo, you really have to wonder why they want it back.