Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Sept. 8 (LaPresse) – Bosnia and Herzegovina is preparing to drastically reduce its diplomatic presence in Serbia. Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic announced the withdrawal of almost all staff at the Bosnian embassy in Belgrade who fall under his authority, while some consular services could be transferred to the missions in Zagreb and Podgorica. According to local media, the decision comes after initiatives organized in Serbia on the occasion of the death and funeral of Ratko Mladic, the former military commander of the Bosnian Serbs who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the Srebrenica genocide and other war crimes and crimes against humanity. “If I could, I would immediately sever diplomatic relations with Serbia,” Konakovic said, announcing his intention to minimize relations with Belgrade. However, the minister cannot unilaterally decide to break diplomatic relations or recall Ambassador Aleksandar Vranjes and the consul. Under the Bosnian Constitution, foreign policy falls under the authority of the Presidency, which also appoints ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives. The embassy could therefore formally continue to operate, but with a significantly reduced staff. Belgrade reacted by accusing Konakovic of “hypocrisy and shamelessness”, while officials from Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Serb-majority entity, argued that the minister had exceeded his powers.
Bosnia: Sarajevo withdraws embassy staff from Belgrade after Mladic’s funeral
Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Sept. 8 (LaPresse) – Bosnia and Herzegovina is preparing to drastically reduce its diplomatic presence in Serbia. Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic announced the withdrawal of almost all staff at the Bosnian embassy in Belgrade who fall under his authority, while some consular services could be transferred to the missions in Zagreb and Podgorica. According to local media, the decision comes after initiatives organized in Serbia on the occasion of the death and funeral of Ratko Mladic, the former military commander of the Bosnian Serbs who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the Srebrenica genocide and other war crimes and crimes against humanity. “If I could, I would immediately sever diplomatic relations with Serbia,” Konakovic said, announcing his intention to minimize relations with Belgrade. However, the minister cannot unilaterally decide to break diplomatic relations or recall Ambassador Aleksandar Vranjes and the consul. Under the Bosnian Constitution, foreign policy falls under the authority of the Presidency, which also appoints ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives. The embassy could therefore formally continue to operate, but with a significantly reduced staff. Belgrade reacted by accusing Konakovic of “hypocrisy and shamelessness”, while officials from Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Serb-majority entity, argued that the minister had exceeded his powers.