Ukraine sends protest note to BiH over Milorad Dodik's statements

(Patria) - Regarding the diplomatic protest note sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine concerning statements by member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik to Russian media about the annexation of Crimea, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić issued a press release.

Komšić stated that the position of the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik and his support for the illegal annexation of Crimea is not the position of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but Dodik's personal stance.

The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina, as an aspirant for candidate status for membership in the European Union, remains committed to the European Union's position that the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine must be respected, and that the European Union does not recognize the illegal referendum in Crimea, nor its outcome, recalling the EU's position that the European Union does not recognize and will not recognize the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation.

Komšić also recalled that the EU introduced restrictive measures against Russia back in March 2014.

"These measures were adopted in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the deliberate destabilization of Ukraine. Economic sanctions are currently extended until January 31, 2020," said Komšić.