Minister Elmedin Konaković attended a ministerial meeting in Washington regarding the concerning resurgence of political terrorism

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, participated today in a ministerial meeting in Washington, addressing the concerning resurgence of political terrorism. The meeting was held at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Hosted by the State Department, the gathering included ministers and senior officials from 65 countries to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other contemporary security threats. Discussions focused on current security challenges, enhancing the exchange of information and intelligence, protecting critical infrastructure, securing borders, disrupting terrorist financing networks, and improving coordinated international responses to emerging forms of politically motivated terrorism.

Minister Konaković strongly condemned politically motivated terrorism and all forms of extremist activity directed against democratic institutions, the constitutional order, and the rule of law. He stressed that terrorism can never be an acceptable means of political action or an instrument for achieving political objectives.

He noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina's experiences demonstrate that organized political extremism, if not recognized and addressed promptly, can escalate from inflammatory rhetoric into violence with devastating consequences. He emphasized that systematic attacks on the constitutional order, democratic institutions, and the rule of law should never be trivialized or misrepresented as ordinary political conflicts. It is precisely the weakening of institutions that allows extremist actors to operate.

Minister Konaković warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to face ongoing attempts to undermine state institutions, secessionist rhetoric, and activities that threaten the constitutional order established by the Dayton Peace Agreement. He pointed out that such policies deepen political polarization, increase security risks, and threaten peace and stability in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the broader Western Balkans region. He particularly highlighted that denial of war crimes, glorification of convicted war criminals, hate speech, dehumanization, and persistent attacks on the constitutional order are not merely political rhetoric but dangerous patterns that erode trust in democratic institutions and create conditions conducive to politically motivated terrorism and extremism.

Regarding current challenges, Minister Konaković specifically mentioned the actions of Milorad Dodik, the President of the SNSD, emphasizing that his longstanding secessionist policy and continuous attacks on Bosnian institutions pose serious threats to the constitutional order and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He remarked that attempts to portray such a policy to international partners as pro-Western starkly contradict its actual implications. The orchestrated campaign by secessionist actors and their lobbyists, marked by the dissemination of false narratives and the undermining of state institutions, aims to weaken international support for Bosnia and Herzegovina and its democratic order.He concluded that effectively combating politically motivated terrorism requires not only a decisive response to security threats but also timely recognition and suppression of phenomena that could exacerbate such threats. He reiterated that secessionist policies, hate speech, dehumanization, denial of war crimes, glorification of convicted war criminals, and systematic attacks on democratic institutions and the rule of law serve as serious warnings that the international community must address before they develop into more significant security threats. He emphasized that strong democratic institutions, adherence to the rule of law, and robust international cooperation are essential for preserving peace, stability, and security in democratic societies.

Minister Konaković attended a working lunch hosted by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting. After the ministerial meeting, a bilateral discussion with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Daniel Lawton is planned, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation, the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, and a joint response to contemporary security challenges.