euractiv.com
Published: 04 January 2011
Bosnia and Herzegovina still has many reforms to undertake, but its people need encouragement on their journey to integration with the West, Sven Alkalaj, the country's foreign minister, told EurActiv Germany in an exclusive interview.
Bosnia and Herzegovina still has many reforms to undertake, but its people need encouragement on their journey to integration with the West, Sven Alkalaj, the country's foreign minister, told EurActiv Germany in an exclusive interview.
Sven Alkalaj has been foreign minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2007. Prior to assuming the post he was his country's ambassador to the USA, Belgium and NATO. Alkalaj, who is of Sephardic ethnicity, is one of the most prominent Bosnian Jews.
He was speaking to EurActiv Germany's Daniel Tost.
He was speaking to EurActiv Germany's Daniel Tost.
What are the main issues that the new government of Bosnia and Herzegovina will have to deal with?
I want to mention one important issue we must deal with immediately after the formation of the new government: we have to align our constitution with the European Convention on Human Rights based on the judgement of the court in Strasbourg.
Our constitution is currently very discriminatory. It does not allow citizens of Bosnia who are not part of the three ethnic groups to put forward their candidacy for, let's say, the presidency of the country.
A number of institutions globally have realised this and given recommendations. The US Congress, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament have mentioned the flaws of the Dayton Constitution and gave recommendations what should be done.
Is there political will to make these changes?
There is no critical mass, especially within the entity of Republica Srpska. We have to look for different ways and means to move forward.
One of the important steps would be allowing Bosnia and Herzegovina to present its application for EU candidate status. So far, the European Commission has been setting up conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina to submit its application, giving five principles plus two conditions (the 5+2 agenda). However, this could not possibly be implemented for at least the next two years.
Other countries from the region, which are not as complex as Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be able to move further and this will widen the gap between countries in the Western Balkans....more...
I want to mention one important issue we must deal with immediately after the formation of the new government: we have to align our constitution with the European Convention on Human Rights based on the judgement of the court in Strasbourg.
Our constitution is currently very discriminatory. It does not allow citizens of Bosnia who are not part of the three ethnic groups to put forward their candidacy for, let's say, the presidency of the country.
A number of institutions globally have realised this and given recommendations. The US Congress, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament have mentioned the flaws of the Dayton Constitution and gave recommendations what should be done.
Is there political will to make these changes?
There is no critical mass, especially within the entity of Republica Srpska. We have to look for different ways and means to move forward.
One of the important steps would be allowing Bosnia and Herzegovina to present its application for EU candidate status. So far, the European Commission has been setting up conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina to submit its application, giving five principles plus two conditions (the 5+2 agenda). However, this could not possibly be implemented for at least the next two years.
Other countries from the region, which are not as complex as Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be able to move further and this will widen the gap between countries in the Western Balkans....more...
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