The Bosniak member of the tripartite Presidency told N1 on Tuesday that he expects Bosnia and Herzegovina to take strong steps forward on its path toward EU and NATO integration and reforms to remove the blockades of its institutions during the term of the new US President, Joe Biden.

Sefik Dzaferovic said he expects “increased engagement” of Washington and Brussels regarding the Western Balkans.

“During his campaign, President Biden announced the agenda when it comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program said that it was the Euro-Atlantic integration and stabilization of the situation in BiH,” Dzaferovic said.

“I expect that during Biden's administration, BiH will, of course with an agreement with Brussels, make a strong step forward on its European and NATO path and that reforms will be carried out that will remove the blockades that are present in the BiH institutions,” he added.

Dzaferovic also commented on statements from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who said that Biden’s term could complicate the situation regarding Kosovo and Bosnia’s semi-autonomous Republika Srpska (RS) entity.

The Bosniak Presidency member stressed that he rejects any attempts to connect the issue of Kosovo with that of the RS.

“It’s not that either the state or the entity are facing an uncertain future. BiH is a multiethnic state in which all peoples should be equal. However, an uncertain future is coming for secessionist policies and policies of institutional blockades,” he said.

When asked which “secessionist policies” he is referring to, Dzaferovic said it was those of his Serb colleague in the Bosnian Presidency and the current Chairman of the institution, Milorad Dodik.

“He will have to change his policy or leave the political scene,” he said.