On Tuesday, 8 March 2022, MEPs discussed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina at a plenary session in Strasbourg. MEP Irena Joveva drew parallels between Dodik’s destruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
Joveva began by pointing out that, unfortunately, in the 21st century, autocrats and democracy destroyers still exist on European soil, threatening peace, human rights and fundamental freedoms:
“Thirty years after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik is destroying the country and its institutions. He denies genocide. As if what the people there have been through were not enough. Thirty years after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a new war begins in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin is branded a criminal. And rightly so, because that is exactly what he is.”
Despite the EU’s immediate response to Putin’s actions, Joveva expressed concern that those of Dodik are noticed much less: “How can anyone fail to condemn his moves? Does his affiliation with some parties make him any less evil? The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina are no less deserving of a better life and leaders who care.” In her opinion, the citizens of BiH should be supported on their path to the European Union. “In the meantime, we must stand up – just as loudly –to all autocrats and criminals, because we have long seen too much hypocrisy of the European Union in this respect. Even within our own ranks. The methods are very similar. Unfortunately,” she concluded.
Joveva’s contribution to the plenary debate can be viewed on the link below:
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