Why does bosnia have three presidents

You are here Home Bosnia swears in a three-man presidency dominated by nationalists. Updated 20 November Bosnia swears in a three-man presidency dominated by nationalists.

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While many citizens and leaders alike still seem to believe that one outside power or another will intervene decisively, as the U. The Biden administration is sympathetic to Sarajevo and invested in the post state-building project, but it has its hands full with higher priorities at home and abroad — from China to climate to COVID Washington is also keen not to encroach on its European Union allies, who see the Balkans as their turf.

The U. A month earlier, in October , it threatened to sanction Serb leaders who undermine the Dayton agreements. The EU is the regional power, yet its main instrument for promoting reform — the promise of accession — has lost much of its credibility as progress in that direction has stalled. It sees Bosnia as a Western project and has been happy to undermine its cohesion, especially when it can do so at low cost.

But Belgrade is also acutely aware of how dependent it is on European good-will for its economic future and how vulnerable it is to losing that favour if it plays too aggressively in Bosnia.

The UN Security Council voted on 3 November to extend for a year the international peacekeeping force in Bosnia, but only after all mentions of the OHR were removed following threats by Russia to veto the renewal. Moscow and Beijing, mistrustful of Schmidt, blocked him from speaking at the meeting on Bosnia, with Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia refusing to recognise his mandate. Because of Russian and Chinese opposition, Schmidt lacks the explicit endorsement of the UN Security Council enjoyed by his predecessors.

Under the terms of the Dayton accords, he enjoys governing powers that theoretically are almost unlimited, but without full international backing it will be difficult for him to use them effectively. Countering Republika Srpska secessionism will require a robust response. The goal for Bosnia, the United States and the EU should be to see the country through the October elections in one piece. The electoral dispute requires a temporary truce between Bosniaks and Croats.

In return, the HDZ, the main Bosnian Croat party, should abandon its boycott threat and fully support efforts to deter Serb separatism. They could also threaten further sanctions against the leadership, though thus far sanctions appear to have had little impact. Without the prospect of addressing their complaints about how Bosnia is governed, Republika Srpska leaders may find the pain of whatever measures the EU and Washington can impose the lesser of two evils.

The EU-led peacekeeping mission, despite its limited size, remains a vital check on actors on the ground. It enjoys the unanimous support of not only the Security Council but also politicians in Bosnia, including Dodik.

On the surface, stability appears to have been restored, but it is deceptive, and punctuated by strikes and demonstrations.

Hoping to join the EU, BiH is carrying out a new raft of EU-backed economic reforms, including even more privatization. But the reforms have received a scathing review pdf, p. By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy. Skip to navigation Skip to content. Discover Membership. Editions Quartz. More from Quartz About Quartz. Follow Quartz. These are some of our most ambitious editorial projects. From our Series. By Franco Galdini.