Samir Beharić Profile picture
PhD Candidate @uni_bamberg_of | Research Officer @TheBalkanForum | PEYR Member @eucoeyouth | EU - WB, Migration, Human Rights
Oct 2, 2022 7 tweets 4 min read
People in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is considered one of the most complicated political systems in the world, vote in general elections today.

They are given four long ballots to elect three presidents and MPs in 14 parliaments.

This is what my ballots looked like.

1/7 Since I am registered to vote in Jajce, Central Bosnian Canton, I first had to choose my representatives on the cantonal level.

The cantonal assembly ballot featured 16 different political parties and 349 candidates. I could vote only for the candidate(s) within one party.

2/7
Mar 15, 2022 7 tweets 3 min read
I just watched the @Europarl_EN FAC meeting on the political situation in BiH. I must say I am absolutely appalled.

As a Bosnian, I've heard Dodik and Čović spewing insults many times, but what they said today in Brussels is a textbook example of hate speech and racism.

1/7
The Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik kept referring to Bosniaks as "Muslims", blaming them for wanting to create an "Islamic state" in BiH.

He even criticized MEPs for not opposing the "Bosnian Islamic state" in the same way as the EU is fighting the ISIS.

2/7
Jan 10, 2022 14 tweets 5 min read
Bosnians will gather today in 35 cities across 14 countries to protest against attempts from Bosnian Serb separatists to break up the country.

The main event will take place in Brussels at the Schuman Square with several MEPs planned to speak.

#ProtestForBosnia

1/ The protests were spurred on by secessionist acts by Bosnia Serb leader Milorad Dodik.

A month ago, the parliament of the Republika Srpska entity adopted a series of laws by which it intends to form parastatal institutions and even the own Republika Srpska Army by May 2022.

2/
Jan 2, 2022 13 tweets 4 min read
Every time my mum asks if there’s a new war looming over Bosnia, I bend the truth a bit. I don’t want to think how I’d tell her that we might need to flee again.

Orbán, Dodik & Co. are ready to wreak havoc and cause a war.

My latest for @haaretzcom.

🧵
haaretz.com/world-news/.pr… This holiday season marks exactly 29 years since my family and I found shelter in an improvised refugee camp in Zenica, less than two months after we fled my hometown of Jajce.

After the Army of RS seized Jajce, we joined thousands of other civilians fleeing their homes.

2/
Nov 7, 2021 4 tweets 3 min read
Dear world, don't say you weren't warned about a potential conflict in BiH.

Here's the leader of Bosnian Serbs, Milorad Dodik threatening with the Republika Srpska withdrawing from the BiH Armed Forces on @bbcworldservice #Weekend.

This means new war.
🧵
bbc.co.uk/programmes/w17… BiH's High Rep, Christian Schmidt is clear: Dodik's actions lead to the undoing of the #Dayton Peace Agreement.

Dodik dismissed his claims using the same words as the Russian Amb to UN: Schmidt is a private person, and his UN report was written by the "Muslim intel agency".

2/4
Nov 6, 2021 4 tweets 3 min read
People in Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Jajce and other places are scared. For the second time in less than 30 years, our country is threatened to fall apart.

That's why I told @MersihaGadzo I'm worried. Peace in BiH is at stake - and we all know what that means.
aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/5… Ahmed Hrustanović (@E71HRG), an imam from #Srebrenica told @AJEnglish it would be a defeat of humanity if the Republika Srpska forms an army that committed a genocide.

His father, both grandfathers, four uncles and other relatives were killed during the #Srebrenica genocide.
Oct 30, 2021 8 tweets 2 min read
On this day 29 years ago, my family fled #Jajce together with thousands of other families after the Army of Republika Srpska seized the city. I was one year old.

Today, my mum asked me if we will have to flee again, stressing she saw identical red flags three decades ago.

🧵 Three decades ago, the people of Jajce didn't believe the war would happen even though the Yugoslav National Army soldiers dug trenches around the city.

Today, Milorad Dodik & Co. are digging political trenches. I wouldn't like my generation commits the mistake our parents did.
Jun 16, 2021 8 tweets 6 min read
I asked @MiroslavLajcak why should the #WesternBalkan leaders trust the EU promises, taking into account the EU failed to deliver visa liberalisation to #Kosovo and accession talks with #NorthMacedonia.

His reply was abhorrent: "If you don't trust the EU, go somewhere else." 1/ Lajčak continued by saying: "It's trendy to criticise the EU about the visa liberlisation, but #Kosovo leaders should go to those countries blocking the freedom to travel and ask how to comply."

However, all the required benchmarks for visa lib have been delivered by Kosovo! 2/
Nov 29, 2019 8 tweets 6 min read
It is extremely disturbing to read about the the current state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of #Croatia, Zdravka Bušić taking part in #terrorist training and posing with fascist insignia in USA during the 1970s.

zurnal.info/novost/22572/p… The photos of Zdravka Bušić and her friend Mercedes Škegro posing with guns and #Croat fascist insignia were taken by journalist Nikola Majstrović.

In 1977, he was tasked to make a documentary featuring Croat emigrants in USA, titled "The #Croats: Terrorists or Freedom Fighters"