Weekly Briefing, Vol. 63. No. 4 (BH) June 2023
Activities of Minister Konaković: What MFA can really do?
Summary
Elmedin “Dino” Konaković is a politician who loves public appearances. So, after a series of activities that he had as the first man of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June, he called a press conference and presented recent activities. He did similar in May, when he called a media conference to present work in first hundred days of his mandate. Konaković’s modus operandi makes work easier for everyone, both journalists, analysts and the opposition, because everything is visible and easily accessible to the public.
Introduction
In mid-June, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, organized a media conference where he spoke about the ministry’s activities in the past few weeks. He said that he was extremely satisfied with the reception that BiH received all over the world. Konaković pointed out that BiH has become a meeting place of friendly and important countries. Earlier he stated that the focus on BiH had been returned. Konaković’s sympathizers and political partners point to his successes, critics and opponents say that Konaković is bragging for no reason.
Gulf countries
Konaković started his last press conference by listing activities he had, chronologically, starting with the dinner with the Minister of Trade of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). That visit followed the first visit by someone from this Gulf state after 14 years, after, as Minister Konaković himself said, “the lack of level of relations between the Emirates and BiH, and that caused us harm.”
“That country is one of the most welcome guests. At that evening, we provided the Minister of Trade with contact with the real sector of BiH, presented several projects, and we can say that the communication between our large companies and representatives of the UAE authorities is still ongoing, and potential investments are being discussed,” Konaković said[1].
When it comes to the Middle East, Konaković was also in Saudi Arabia, on an official visit to Riyadh, at the “Fight against ISIL” conference. Speaking about the relations with Saudi Arabia, Konaković said that the three months visas-free regime for citizens of this country is being considered, sou tourism cooperation can boost. Konakovic believes this would be really great for the economy, and he is absolutelly right.
Western Allies
Regarding political weight, there are much more significant messages that can be heard from meetings with leaders of the Western world, and Konaković has had several of them in the last few weeks. In Riyadh, he had the opportunity to have lunch with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whom the head of the MFA says is very knowledgeable about the situation in BiH, down to the details: “He knows what the US Embassy in BiH is doing and that is really impressive. They know all the processes and we have heard encouraging messages of support for BiH. We will very soon head to the USA and try to discuss some bilateral topics there as well.”[2]
In an interview after the meeting in Riyadh, Konaković said it is important that information about BiH reaches the right addresses and is interpreted in the right way: “Once again, we received confirmation that the United States is committed to the processes in BiH and that they are our key international partner, that they know what is happening in BiH and that they firmly stand by the sovereignty of BiH and its European and Euro-Atlantic path,” said Konaković[3].
In addition to Blinken, Konaković had two important official visits in June to two important European addresses, namely London and Berlin. In London, he met with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth Affairs and Development, James Cleverly. Konaković expressed his sincere gratitude to the United Kingdom for supporting the reform and integration processes in BiH. He emphasized that BiH remains committed to the path to the EU and that the implementation of reform processes and the fulfillment of obligations from the EC Opinion remain priorities in the work of the Council of Ministers of BiH. Minister Cleverliy emphasized that the UK remains committed to providing support to BiH when it comes to protecting territorial integrity and sovereignty, strengthening economic security and the ability to counter security threats. He announced the expansion of investments in the infrastructure of the Western Balkans through British investment partnerships, as well as investments aimed at increasing energy independence. Cooperation in the field of defense was also discussed. He reiterated that the UK remains committed to the stability and prosperity of the countries of the Western Balkans within the framework of the Berlin process[4].
During his official visit to Germany, Konaković he met with the head of German diplomacy, Ms Annalena Baerbock. While still in Berlin, he stated that Germany is the country with which BiH has the largest volume of trade and is the fifth investor in BiH, which confirms their commitment. Konaković said that the two of them announced a new era of relations because the narrative of accelerated accession to the EU and some new, more concrete approaches to the countries of the Western Balkans is opening. He said that they also discussed the administrative problems of BiH citizens in Germany, and there are hundreds of thousands of them, such as the recognition of driver’s licenses, as well as issues of dual citizenship[5].
At the press conference after all these visits, Konaković also spoke about the visit to Brussels, but also the Globsec conference that was organized in Bratislava. He said that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, sent messages confirming the acceptance of the EU’s new relations with the countries of the Western Balkans. He added that these countries need concrete help, a different approach, to implement access to funds and the common market at a time when there is talk of accelerated EU expansion. It is important that BiH is present at all these manifestations and that BiH’s opinion and proposals are heard there[6].
That Konaković will continue in the same direction and with the same intensity, especially when it comes to EU-Atlantic integration, is also shown by the last meeting, the one in Slovenia. He met the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Ms Tanja Fajon. Konaković expressed his gratitude to Slovenia for supporting BiH on its path to the EU and NATO, and especially for its strong support for granting candidate status for EU. He thanked Minister Fajon and other representatives because, at a time when BiH needed support, they were very vocal and very brave in giving that support so that by obtaining candidate status BiH could move towards the EU at a faster pace. He said that BiH still has a lot of challenges in order to justify the candidate status and possibly create the conditions to officially start negotiations. The minister said that Slovenia is one of the most important countries in the area of trade exchange[7].
Missed opportunities
At media conferences and in general during media appearances, Konaković does not miss the chance to emphasize that the reputation of BiH in the world had been greatly damaged in previous years. At the June conference, he said that diplomacy played with BiH, left a pale image and missed opportunities[8].
At the press conference in May, on the occasion of one hundred days since taking office, Konaković spoke about his visits to the countries of the region and Europe, and how easily he can find interlocutors in the world of diplomacy, which confirms to him that BiH is interesting and important in all geopolitical processes: “I was afraid that we were on some agenda or some kind of silent sanctions because I had no explanation why BiH was bypassed by anyone who could. I thought that some world players had some dark plan for us, however, now I see that it is all up to us. In just 100 days, we succeeded in this first, perhaps the most important project.[9]”
Of course, his words are not without criticism. Until 2018, Konaković was a member of the Party of Democratic Action (Stranka demokratske akcije – SDA), which he left after parting ways with the then and current leader Bakir Izetbegović. Since then, Konaković has been one of the harshest critics of the SDA on the domestic and foreign policy fronts, and in the previous term of 2018-2022, the function of the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs was held by a member of SDA, Ms Bisera Turković, a long-term serving diplomat.
One news portal, known for its critical attitude towards Konaković and the effect of his policies, asked whether it is possible to verify Konaković’s claim about “restoring the reputation of BiH or the international focus on BiH?” They immediately answered: Not at all! The same media has just pointed out the criticism that Konaković directs towards his predecessor, referring to his statement that his meetings with important European officials “were not handshakes in the corridors or conversations on the sidelines of conferences”, but “serious bilateral meetings”. They mentioned that in the first hundred days of her mandate, Minister Turković met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and hosted a World Bank delegation, while Konaković met with representatives of Hungary and Bulgaria in the same period.
“Even if we accept Konaković’s claim that since the beginning of his mandate, the interest of ‘world players’ in BiH, it remains unclear what the concrete results of his actions are, except for frequent official trips and participation in protocol events, which are an indispensable part of the function of the Minister of Foreign Affair’s job”, this media pointed[10].
Conclusion
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH is not the person who creates BiH’s foreign policy. This is done by the BiH Presidency, which is the real head of BiH diplomacy. The Minister of Foreign Affairs does not even have the authority to appoint ambassadors in the diplomatic-consular network. He is the de facto head of the ministry. And yet, regardless of these obstacles, Konaković must be appreciated for the enormous energy with which he approached his work. Criticisms that he only meets with second-rate diplomats do not stand. As part of the forces in BiH that have the support of the Western world due to their strongly pro-EU and pro-NATO stance, Konaković is a welcome guest at the representatives of Washington, London and Berlin. He will continue to be so in the future, regardless of the fact that further Euro-Atlantic integration is on the long side, for which the culprits should be sought in other addresses.
[1] Konaković on the results of BiH diplomacy: The previous structures left a pale image of the state in the world. https://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/konakovic-o-rezultatima-bh-diplomatije-ranije-strukture-su-ostavile-bljedu-sliku-drzave-u-svijetu/230619066
[2] Ibid.
[3] Konaković on the meeting with Blinken: ‘Aware of everything in BiH, I notice one huge…’ https://depo.ba/clanak/245340/konakovic-o-sastanku-sa-blinkenom-upoznat-o-svemu-u-bih-primjecujem-jedan-ogroman
[4] Minister Konaković met with State Secretary for Foreign Affairs James Cleverley. https://avaz.ba/vijesti/bih/837116/ministar-konakovic-sastao-se-sa-drzavnim-sekretarom-za-vanjske-poslove-dzejmsom-kleverlijem
[5] Konaković with Baerbock: The topic was investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also the recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina. driver’s licenses. https://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/konakovic-sa-baerbock-tema-su-bile-investicije-u-bih-ali-i-priznavanje-bh-vozackih-dozvola/230616108
[6] Konaković on the results of BiH. diplomacy: The previous structures left a pale image of the state in the world. https://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/konakovic-o-rezultatima-bh-diplomatije-ranije-strukture-su-ostavile-bljedu-sliku-drzave-u-svijetu/230619066
[7] Konaković met with Tanja Fajon in Ljubljana: Traditionally good relations, sectoral cooperation needs to be strengthened. https://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/konakovic-se-u-ljubljani-sastao-sa-tanjom-fajon-tradicionalno-dobri-odnosi-potrebno-jacati-sektorsku-saradnju/230622128
[8] Konaković on the results of BiH. diplomacy: The previous structures left a pale image of the state in the world. https://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/konakovic-o-rezultatima-bh-diplomatije-ranije-strukture-su-ostavile-bljedu-sliku-drzave-u-svijetu/230619066
[9] Konaković after 100 days of mandate: Bosnia and Herzegovina has become an indispensable factor on the world stage. https://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/konakovic-nakon-100-dana-mandata-bih-je-postala-nezaobilazan-faktor-na-svetskoj-scena/230508066
[10] FROM SDA TO NiP AND BACK: One hundred days of mandate and 20 years of “shallow” demagogy of Elmedin Konaković. https://www.slobodna-bosna.ba/vijest/300085/od_sda_do_nip_a_i_natrag_sto_dana_mandata_i_20_godina_plitke_demagogije_elmedina_konakovica.html