Božo – Trebinje
“Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reliance upon the international community needs to end.”
I was born and raised in Trebinje. After completing economics high school, I attended the University of Belgrade where I earned my degree in political science. I am now completing a master’s program in the field of organizational sciences. Although I had an employment offer in Belgrade, I chose to return home where my parents still live and where I had established a successful news portal, Trebinje Live, during high school. Despite that, I know that if the political and economic conditions of Bosnia and Herzegovina do not change, you will be more likely to meet me for a coffee in Berlin in five years’ time, then here, in Trebinje.
Currently, I work in Trebinje’s City Administration. I began as an intern, gaining the experience necessary for the completion of my degree. My master’s thesis focuses upon the much-needed reorganization of the public sector and I would like to apply my knowledge to its eventual reform. I believe that the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina could function if its leadership – including representatives of both the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – could agree to simply work together to achieve shared goals. The presence of young adults in politics and within the public sector could help spur reform efforts, but these individuals must earn their position through education and experience. At present, I believe that public institutions are overstaffed with unqualified personnel.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reliance upon the international community needs to end. Drawing on an analogy from the current pandemic, the international community has acted as the country’s ventilator for 25 years. It is time to remove this ventilator and the country’s dependence upon external powers. The economy plays a significant role in our capacity to move forward. A foreigner recently asked me, “Is there an ongoing war in your country?” The only way to change such misconceptions is to initiate reforms and accept Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country comprised of two entities – the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – both of which are unquestionable in every sense of the word.
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“Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reliance upon the international community needs to end.”
