The European law and order missions in Bosnia and Kosovo have totally different mandates, staffing and funding – but they are both in place to help these two former Yugoslav states join the European Union

A recent Balkan Insight article, reporting Serbian President Boris Tadic’s attendance at the inauguration of Milorad Dodik as the new President of the Bosnian Serb entity, the Republika Srpska, on 15 November 2010, described the two men as “close allies”.

Along the way I observed the dismal situation for practically all who are not privileged members of the government and discussed options for change with various activists. I was confronted with two quite different visions of change, a positive one and a negative one.

I am impatient to see that day and hear the introduction by the Prosecution – but I also constantly ask myself how will it influence my life, past, present and future, and my country? Will it bring us back a little bit of what we lost? Will the country be a better place to live in?

While I easily fell in love with Bosnia, my perception of the international community living and working there quickly evolved into something much more critical.

The story was about people who refuse to live in the present moment, but dwell in the past or future times, carrying along ghosts of their past horrors and traumas.

I can almost hear the announcer bellowing over the drumbeat and roar of the audience. Ladies and Gentlemen: In the red corner, unwavering and resolute, stands Republika Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, a champion of Bosnian Serb national, ethnic, historic, economic, social, sport and cultural interests. In the blue corner, Bosnia’s new High Representative, Valentin Inzko, the latest defender of the international community’s dwindling authority and protector of Bosnia’s flailing constitutional integrity.