Hot Potato

Diplomatic Relations between B&H and FRY

AIM Sarajevo, 14 April, 1997

A few days ago, President of Presidency of B&H Alija Izetbegovic, through a special envoy, received a Memorandum on Understanding from the foreign minister of FR Yugoslavia, Milan Milutinovic, based on which diplomatic relations between B&H and FRY should be established.

This move of Yugoslav diplomacy was expected by official Sarajevo, and a delegation of FRY should have come to the capital of B&H by now. According to the words of the foreign minister of B&H, Jadranko Prlic, talks with Milutionovic took place some time ago in Vienna, on the occasion of the Conference on Brcko, when the possibility of a visit from Belgrade to Sarajevo was announced. So far, however, no Yugoslav delegation has arrived in Sarajevo, but the Memorandum was nevertheless forwarded to Izetbegovic.

In expectation of the answer to the offer made by official Belgrade to establish diplomatic relations with Sarajevo, information came from Izetbegovic's office that "most probably nothing will come out of it". The reason: the FRY conditions establishment of diplomatic relations by withdrawal of the appeal B&H has submitted to the Tribunal in the Hague against Serbia and Montenegro because of violation of the 1948 Geneva Convention on genocide.

During their last year's meeting in Paris, Presidents Izetbegovic and Milosevic declared themselves in favour of peace and signed a declaration agreeing, among other, to establish diplomatic relations on the level of embassies. But, at the very start, a key dilemma appeared. The two leaders pledged that they would resolve all mutual issues "in the spirit of good will and understanding" and that they would "abstain from political and legal acts which do not contribute to development of friendly relations and cooperation". Alluding to that part of the signed document, Belgrade "asked" President Izetbegovic whether that meant that B&H desisted from the appeal it had submitted to the Tribunal of Justice in the Hague against Serbia and Montenegro.

A short answer followed: B&H would not desist from the appeal initiated in March 1993. In July 1996, the Hague Tribunal decided to consider the appeal, but the procedure has not begun yet. The Yugoslav party was given a year to respond to the indictment. On the occasion, Izetbegovic said that by July 1997, B&H would assess "whether benefit from cooperation with Serbia will be more useful than initiation of the appeal".

Since then to this day, absolutely nothing has happened concerning establishment of the official diplomatic relations and opening of embassies in Sarajevo and Belgrade. That is why the latest, although expected move of Milutinovic, opens several issues. First, has the FRY - under certain pressure and before any ratification of the agreement with Republica Srpska - decided to establish diplomatic relations with B&H first? In other words, has it hurried to force out the necessary diplomatic move before July and the decision on initiation of the procedure at the Tribunal in the Hague, in order to prevent it.

That is exactly what is believed in Izetbegovic's office as well as that the offer is in fact a hot potato in the hands of the current President of B&H Presidency. This especially because B&H, according to the assessments of analysts close to him, has never been closer to "peaceful" division as nowadays when the Dayton accords are faced with a great challenge. That is why Izetbegovic's dilemma how to assess the offered cooperation and relations with the FRY is quite understandable, or as he himself said, "to take what stand towards the appeal".

Regardless of what Izetbegovic's ultimate decision will be, it is clear that mere opening of embassies in Sarajevo and Belgrade conceals much greater political games between B&H and FRY, and even possible qualifications of the war in B&H and participation of the Serbian and Montenegrin regime in it. On the other hand, that opening of diplomatic offices between the two countries would mean a lot for further stabilization of peace in this space and especially for "ordinary mortals" for whom freedom of movement is the main indicator of the end of the war - it is needless to say.

Mirjana MICEVSKA