Ivanic Praises “Maturity” of BiH Leaders – B92

Mladen Ivanic, the Serb member and current chair of the BiH Presidency, Remarked in an interview this week that BiH leaders and the international community had “become more mature” and realistic about the political situation in Bosnia. Ivanic believes that leaders will be able to move beyond–or at least work around–differing political views and preferences.

“Mr. Bakir Izetbegovic wants a unified Bosnia, preferably without entities, but he knows that this is not possible. I’d like to see an independent RS the most, but I know that’s not possible. Dragan Covic has the idea of ​​a third entity, but we know that we are not united on that. So it is better to leave it aside. Our generation of politicians is not able to solve it.”

…Speaking about himself and two other members of the presidency, [Ivanic] then that “three serious politicians are currently in the presidency” and that there was “no other institution, including the Council of Ministers, with such serious politicians.”

“This means that the presidency will be in focus, and will, as their parties are in the Council of Ministers, have an impact on that body,” Ivanic is convinced.

He stressed that it is necessary to send a message that Bosnia is a place “where decisions can be made and not the end of the world, and although complicated, is not so inefficient.”

Mr. Ivanic said that neither Russia nor Serbia–seen as Republika Srpska’s closest allies–would recognize an independent RS. He also said that while he expects the incoming Council of Ministers to “solve the problems related to the road towards the EU,” he does not expect EU membership to come to fruition anytime soon. “Not in 10 years, but maybe in 15, that is, I hope in 20.”

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