Bosnia watches Kosovo with unease

Bosnian officials have reacted to the latest Kosovo status developments today. Bosniak, or Bosnian Muslim, member of the country's presidency Haris Silajdzic said that the situation in the region is "very sensitive" in light of the announced "change of Kosovo's status", but that Bosnia-Herzegovina and its institutions are ready to live up to the task and secure the country's safety. Bosnia watches Kosovo with unease "Meetings were held because of the issue of Kosovo and exchange of information with domestic and foreign factors has intensified," Silajdzic told reporters. In his words, Kosovo is "another country's and international community's problem, but it could also become Bosnia's problem, if official Belgrade reaches for Bosnia-Herzegovina's integrity and sovereignty." The post-war Bosnia is internationally managed and divided into the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb entity, known as the Republic of Srpska, RS. Although there were no official announcements that the Serbs will seek independence for their entity following the example of Kosovo, the subject is often speculated about in the domestic and international media. "There are circles and organizations that are ready to transfer the atmosphere of tension and possible repercussions of the Kosovo status settlement to Bosnia-Herzegovina," Silajdzic was quoted Sunday. Meanwhile the man who has the highest authority in Bosnia, High Representative Miroslav Lajcak, says "Kosovo's independence will not cause instability in Bosnia-Herzegovina." "There is no potential for this, although I do not rule out that some individuals will seek to abuse this act. I expect politicians to demonstrate responsible behavior, while the international community will not allow for any instability here. Bosnia-Herzegovina does not depend on Kosovo in any element," the Slovakian diplomat said. Lajcak added that the Kosovo crisis had no influence on Bosnia "because Bosnia-Herzegovina is a sovereign, internationally recognized country." Meanwhile, the British ambassador in Sarajevo, Matthew Rycroft, said that his country "has soldiers ready to intervene if necessary, not only in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but also in Kosovo." The diplomat went on to add he did not expect a "situation where our soldiers will be needed here." But the Bosnian Croat official, Dragan Covic, believes the Kosovo status crisis does influence the Bosnian political scene. "Bosnia could reach a stage where, in the wake of a declaration of Kosovo's independence, it faces terrible difficulties in the functioning of its governing bodies," Covic warned. As for Bosnia's Serbs, they were today outraged by a decision taken by the public television station to broadcast live today's unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence from the assembly in Pristina. They see this as a provocation on the part of the Sarajevo-based outlet, meant to offend the Serbs, and also announced that the RS TV will counter it by a live broadcast of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Kosovo speech an hour later.

Bosnia watches Kosovo with unease

"Meetings were held because of the issue of Kosovo and exchange of information with domestic and foreign factors has intensified," Silajdžić told reporters.

In his words, Kosovo is "another country's and international community's problem, but it could also become Bosnia's problem, if official Belgrade reaches for Bosnia-Herzegovina's integrity and sovereignty."

The post-war Bosnia is internationally managed and divided into the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb entity, known as the Republic of Srpska, RS.

Although there were no official announcements that the Serbs will seek independence for their entity following the example of Kosovo, the subject is often speculated about in the domestic and international media.

"There are circles and organizations that are ready to transfer the atmosphere of tension and possible repercussions of the Kosovo status settlement to Bosnia-Herzegovina," Silajdžić was quoted Sunday.

Meanwhile the man who has the highest authority in Bosnia, High Representative Miroslav Lajčak, says "Kosovo's independence will not cause instability in Bosnia-Herzegovina."

"There is no potential for this, although I do not rule out that some individuals will seek to abuse this act. I expect politicians to demonstrate responsible behavior, while the international community will not allow for any instability here. Bosnia-Herzegovina does not depend on Kosovo in any element," the Slovakian diplomat said.

Lajčak added that the Kosovo crisis had no influence on Bosnia "because Bosnia-Herzegovina is a sovereign, internationally recognized country."

Meanwhile, the British ambassador in Sarajevo, Matthew Rycroft, said that his country "has soldiers ready to intervene if necessary, not only in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but also in Kosovo."

The diplomat went on to add he did not expect a "situation where our soldiers will be needed here."

But the Bosnian Croat official, Dragan Čović, believes the Kosovo status crisis does influence the Bosnian political scene.

"Bosnia could reach a stage where, in the wake of a declaration of Kosovo's independence, it faces terrible difficulties in the functioning of its governing bodies," Čović warned.

As for Bosnia's Serbs, they were today outraged by a decision taken by the public television station to broadcast live today's unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence from the assembly in Priština.

They see this as a provocation on the part of the Sarajevo-based outlet, meant to offend the Serbs, and also announced that the RS TV will counter it by a live broadcast of Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica's Kosovo speech an hour later.