The Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, issued strong criticism of Serbia and its president Aleksandar Vučić while participating in a panel at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.
In the presence of Western Balkan foreign ministers, including Serbia’s foreign minister Marko Đurić, Konaković directly accused the Serbian leadership of an irresponsible approach toward Bosnia and Herzegovina and of undermining regional relations by glorifying and protecting war criminals.
He stressed that building good neighborly relations does not necessarily require sympathy, but honesty and accountability.
“We cannot lie and expect trust. After everything that happened during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which I call aggression, relations are deeply damaged. If war criminals are hidden or glorified, we cannot speak of good neighborliness,” he stated.
Konaković also criticized specific actions by Vučić, calling his public appearances alongside controversial figures from Bosnia provocative.
He referred to a case when Vučić appeared at a press conference with Milorad Dodik and Željka Cvijanović, describing it as a lack of respect toward Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“First, you give space to a convicted individual, and then you speak about the strongest army in the region. Is this respect? Is this correctness?” he asked, raising concerns about messages that, according to him, fuel tensions and insecurity in the region.
Despite the sharp tone, Konaković left open the possibility for regional cooperation, particularly in infrastructure projects where there is mutual interest.
He concluded by emphasizing that dialogue is only possible on the basis of acknowledging the truth and taking responsibility for the past.
