In view of the threat of further destabilization in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Foreign Minister Baerbock wants to campaign for orientation towards Europe. The region should “not be left to Moscow’s influence”.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met with her counterpart Bisera Turkovic on Thursday in Bosnia-Herzegovina to kick off her two-day trip to the West Balkans.
Against the background of an impending further destabilization of the country, the Green politician wants to promote an orientation towards Europe. With her visit to Sarajevo, Kosovo and Serbia, she also wanted to make it clear “that we will not leave this region in the heart of Europe to Moscow’s influence,” announced Baerbock on Wednesday evening before her departure.
Baerbock called for a stronger European commitment to the Balkan countries. “The Russian attack on Ukraine is a turning point that clearly shows that Europe must be prepared to invest strategically in its long-term security.” “We have disappointed and neglected many countries in the Western Balkans in recent years,” she admitted. “Actors like Russia, who have no interest in a European future and do not shy away from stirring up unresolved conflicts, are pushing into this open flank.”
Following further talks with the state leadership, Baerbock also wanted to meet with the high representative of the international community, the ex-CSU politician Christian Schmidt. Schmidt recently warned against a split in the country in view of the nationalist tendencies of the Serb leader Milorad Dodik and brought up personal sanctions by the EU.
Meeting with “Mothers of Srebrenica” planned
Baerbock also wanted to meet with representatives of the victims’ organization “Mothers of Srebrenica”. During the Srebrenica genocide in the Bosnian war in 1995, Serbian troops overran the UN protection zone there and then murdered more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys. The massacre is considered the worst war crime in Europe since the end of World War II.
In the afternoon, Baerbock wanted to hold talks with President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. A meeting with representatives of the NATO mission KFOR and with soldiers from the German contingent was also planned. As part of the KFOR mission, up to 400 German forces can be sent to Kosovo. Around 70 Bundeswehr soldiers are currently tasked with ensuring public order in the country and supporting the establishment of a civil peace order.
Source: Stern
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