Jacimovic: The benefits of the Open Balkans are felt in Skopje, I hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina will also become a member

For the stability of the country, and even the region, just like building a house, a good foundation is needed, but here, we always seem to do everything from scratch, instead of cooperating. Crises have shown that we are very vulnerable, if we are not together, if we do not cooperate, and that is why the initiative for connecting the Open Balkans is important, says for Kosovo online the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina in North Macedonia, Dragan Jacimovic.

He has been on duty in Skopje for almost four years and points out that he sees many benefits from the Open Balkans, expressing the hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina will become part of that initiative as soon as possible.

"Last year, in Ohrid, the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that we are here for the last time as guests of the Open Balkans, and I hope that from this year or next we will be full members. That is also my wish and I hope that all three members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency will support it," said Jacimovic.
 

He adds that Bosnia and Herzegovina, if it had been up to Republic of Srpska, would have been in the Open Balkans "yesterday", but that the other side, the politics coming from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is not in favor of this initiative, that is, only silence comes from that side.

All the countries of the region aspire to become members of the EU, and in this sense he notes that in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina they often refer to the Berlin process, but he notes that the Open Balkans is not a brake for the EU, but a step forward towards the Union.

"I hope that from the summer there will be 'green corridors' for the Western Balkans, so people don't wait at the borders. North Macedonia has great possibilities when it comes to tourism. We spoke with the mayor of Ohrid about twinning with East Sarajevo. Ohrid lives in the summer, and East Sarajevo, because of the ski center on Jahorina, in the winter.  We want to combine summer and winter, to make charter flights and connect people. We have an idea, we will see how long it will take for the charter. I hope, maybe from autumn", says Jacimovic.

He illustrates how important it is to connect people in the region, and how much the Open Balkans contributes to this key issue, with the example of his friends from North Macedonia who, he says, want to go to Jahorina, Bjelasnica, but they have a problem when they hear that they have to drive for 12 hours to East Sarajevo.

When asked how much the consequences of geopolitical circumstances are felt in North Macedonia, and how much in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jacimovic notes that all the countries of the Western Balkans are very small, and that this latest crisis, as well as the covid crisis, has shown that if we are not together and don’t not we help each other we are very vulnerable.

That's why he points out that good road infrastructure, rail connections, economic connections are important... In this sense, he also stated that the introduction of a direct airline Skopje - Sarajevo or Skopje - Banja Luka is being discussed with the Macedonian leadership.

"We all have a common desire to connect even more. Unfortunately, some ugly things happen in this area every 40-50 years and we always make something new. For a good country, for stability, you need it, just like when you build a house - a good foundation, and we constantly do something from scratch, and that's why we are where we are today", stated Ambassador Jacimovic.
He notes that the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine has touched everyone, including the Western Balkans, as well as Europe and the whole world, but he hopes that we will all be able to live and live better as soon as possible.

"But we all have to work on it. We all complain that young people are leaving us, and we have to work to make it better for us, so that children stay to live in North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.... We need stability, to attract investors", emphasized Jacimovic.

In this light, he comments on the recent agreement between the representatives of Belgrade and Pristina in Ohrid, stating that any type of agreement is good, and that, if necessary, it should be discussed for two, three, seven or 10 days, in order to reach an agreement wuth which everyone would be satisfied.

When asked how much it means to Bosnia and Herzegovina to receive the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union, he answers that it is important for the country, which has worked a lot on it.

"In the last few years, the Council of Ministers was formed the fastest, the budget was adopted in a very short period of time, all of this sets a positive example in the talks between the leaders of the EU and those who lead the politics of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We will try to do everything the way the EU requires," he said. Jacimovic.

He points out, however, that the high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not legitimate, because China and Russia did not give a positive opinion on his appointment.

"For me, as a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he is just another tourist in Bosnia, and I hope and am sure that there are smart people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who can solve the situation themselves. We do not need any mentors. Wherever there are mentors, wherever there is someone tried to impose his opinion on you, it didn't end well," the ambassador stated.

He adds that everyone in the region knows very well what great powers are and that no one escapes from that, but that people who live together must and can agree.

"People can talk for as long as necessary and make an agreement. We need peace, stability and security here, for our children to stay here. The entire Western Balkans can progress, it depends on us, not on someone else, and everyone depends on that so we need to work," said Jacimovic.

He also adds that the progress of the countries of the region towards the EU would also mean for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"It is important to have a good neighbor. We have a saying - whatever happens to you, first look at the sun, then at your neighbor. We have to work together, to be stronger. We are small in another sense, but we are very smart and resourceful people, with a rich history. Together we can do a lot, and only the membership of Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, which will come, of course, would pull Bosnia and Herzegovina towards a better and more successful path," said the ambassador.

He added that North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina do not have open issues, but great relations, which they are trying to improve, so that citizens can enter only with identity cards.