12 February 2014

Do you agree with comments that violence showed by some of protesters has become an excuse to BiH authorities for not meeting justified requests of citizens which were presented in a peaceful manner?

Well, let me first of all say that we have been out as European Union representatives here immediately to call for an end to violence. Peaceful protests according to the law, in line with democratic standards, are anyone’s right and for anyone who wishes to do so in society. It is very important for us, as the European Union, that we have the country with a vital civil society and that we listen to them.

I think what we have seen in the last days are demonstrations without violence, which is good. We see that a number of suggestions are coming out. High Representative Ashton has taken note of these. Some of the things, you would expect to see [BiH] authorities to address here. We see that some of the authorities are already saying this and addressing these things in their statements. We will see if there will be any action. But, I think that is very important to underline that peaceful protest is the way forward.

Are early elections the only viable solution for present complex situation in the country, as part of BiH elite claims? How to organise possible early elections when the current Election Law does not foresee early or extraordinary general elections?

It’s a question, of course, that Central Election Commission should answer, because it’s a very technical one, as far as I understand. There are several laws to be changed, and I understand that you will have to do constitutional changes as well. So, it’s technical. I am not in a position to answer, nor am I an expert. It should be the Central Election Commission answering that, but as far as I understood from my advisers and my lawyers and from others, it’s very complex.

If political parties could agree on it, then everything is possible; and in that respect, that’s the response. What I think is important is that these things that have been brought up in the demonstrations, the points that were made – that should be addressed, that good governance is established. Those who are elected to govern, they can govern and in doing so get into action and discussion about those issues.

Many of those socio-economic issues that they [citizens] are putting forward, those are issues also to be done in the context of the EU integration process and those will have to be discussed. Therefore we, as always stand ready to, with our expertise, show how it is handled in other places, and to help, if that’s necessary for the dialogue inside Bosnia and Herzegovina.    
 
Political leaders are those who should agree about the law and constitutional changes, in general, but also to enable early elections. Isn’t this non-agreement what provoked dissatisfied citizens to ask for the solutions on the streets?

I think that, again, based on what demands we have and that have been put up; what demonstrators are calling for – it’s a long-term issue for the whole country namely in the social and economic situation. It is correct that there has been some disagreement between politicians; but I don’t think you can use that as a reason or excuse for why an agreement should not be made.

How do you comment on attempts of majority of political leaders in BiH to use protests for further ethnic division in the country? How can that be stopped?

Well what I think is very important, what also the EU ambassadors jointly said the other day, is that peaceful demonstrations pointing out issues such as social and economic problems in a country cannot, should not and must not be turned into an ethnic issue. Because that’s not what it is.

Fortunately enough, the demonstrations we had and demands we’ve seen are focused on the real life issues, the day to day issues. We don’t see this turning any other way. Also we have been very clear, it is the EU’s position and all other partners from outside the EU as well – it’s very important that stability is maintained and that we address those issues, the wellbeing and the life of people.

How such kind of citizens’ “rising” could actually help the EU integration process of BiH? We are witnessing that in some more advanced countries, there are violent demonstrations, with greater damage, with many more people on the streets? We had examples from Greece, Portugal, and Ireland. How citizens could help EU integration process of BiH?

Well, I don’t think that violence has anything to do with the EU path of BiH. What I think is; that you have an offer as a sovereign country within your borders, within your structures to join eventually, when you are ready, and we are there. These sorts of things we have now, economic issues are actually the issues that many countries are grappling with.

I firmly believe that a number of answers to the questions that are being raised would be addressed in the EU integration process; and that is the reason why we very much hope that we will get to a point that actually the process will go forward. And we can get to a situation of negotiation [for EU membership]. Because then we would be able to address some of those things. It is difficult, it is reforms that have to be done, sometimes these are tricky, but I’m quite convinced that actually you do have within the country to do it.

In the upcoming period, Commissioner Fule and HR/VP Ashton will pay a visit to BiH. In which light those visits will be done? With the old agenda, or some new event and issues will be raised during the upcoming talks?

You’re right that there have been some announcements, not official yet, that they will visit us. I still don’t know the timings of this. I think it is a very important message that EU actually cares and that the EU follows what is actually happening here against the backdrop of events around the world happening at the same time. So I have to say, the way I would see the visits like these are that they are very important and positive and it’s a very good chance for leaders here, politicians and institutions here to relate how they see it.

I think decision making on behalf on the EU, is based on real hard information that we get including directly from the leadership. What will be the contents of the meeting, whenever they are settled, whenever we have them ready? There will be the issues we know and they will be discussed.

Of course there are also the chances of those interlocutors that we meet to bring other issues; and I think rather than expecting the EU to come with a ready made agenda we would like very much to see, like we always do, the interaction with the interlocutors from here, how they see things could be resolved. So I think, we will have a broad discussion, I don’t think we will get away from the old issues too, but we will see.