The focus of NATO and the EU is going to BiH

A big step forward in the talks between Macedonia and Greece, and the agreement of the two prime ministers, is good news especially for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Your country has been waiting for a great moment and a breakthrough since the beginning of the decade, says Dimitar Bečev, an analyst at the Balkan Opportunities at the University of North Carolina.

He shares the view that if the agreement on the new name of Macedonia is realized, the European Union and NATO will intensify their interest in BiH.

Wind in the back

- By the agreement, two prime ministers, Zoran Zaev and Aleksis Cipras, gave the wind back in the West at times when their influence seems to be weak - Vienna stresses.

He explains that now the opportunity is given for Macedonia to join NATO and starts negotiations on joining the EU.

- The enlargement process, therefore, is not over. More! The EU does not leave the scene, it becomes more engaged. Obviously, both Zaev and Cyprus were hasty to reach an agreement before the Council of the European Union on June 28 and 29. On the agenda of this meeting, the region will also be found, and from the messages that have arrived and which will arrive, everyone is on the winning side, especially BiH, which is among the countries on the tail of integration - said Vienna. He recalls the situation in Macedonia a little over a year ago and states that that country was "on the verge of a civil war".

Lone VMRO

- BiH must not miss the opportunity Macedonia has given her now. The breakthrough was built on the foundations of civil mobilization, which lasted just over two years.

Secondly, some citizens were willing to cross ethnic lines and provide a hand. The Albanians did this towards the party of Zoran Zaev, and he paid them a fresh, higher rights. That move was not without risk and they still exist. As in BiH, Macedonia has a strong desire to finally isolate itself and move closer to the EU and NATO. And this has deposed the current coalition in power. VMRO-DPMNE, although he had the highest number of votes individually, found himself on the ice, left by everyone - says Vienna.

There are still many challenges left

- Region, and BiH in particular, must not forget about Macedonia and think that everything has been resolved. There are still many challenges ahead of her and many are interested in completing the situation.

The struggle to eradicate corruption and the state of abductions from captivity has yet to begin. Converting Macedonia, or now Northern Macedonia, into a normal state will be much harder than it is supposed to be. Like Macedonia, BiH will only face the real challenges in times ahead. Unfortunately, Brussels does not have that "silver bullet", but there are hopes there and in BiH, that's for sure - concludes Vienna.

• 14 Jun, 2018
• 1722 views