BH community in the Island welcomes sanctions against Dodik and Cvijanović

(Patria) - The Bosnian diaspora in Great Britain welcomes the decision of the Government of the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on Mr. Milorad Dodik, member of the BiH Presidency and president of SNSD, and Željka Cvijanović, president of the Republika Srpska entity, for endangering peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, inciting the secession of RS, and causing instability in the Western Balkans, all under the influence of Russian President Putin. The sanctions apply to travel and assets located in the UK.

BH UK Network, as the umbrella organization of BiH associations in Great Britain, thanks the Members of Parliament and the House of Lords, the organization Remembering Srebrenica, numerous non-governmental organizations, as well as representatives of the BiH community in the UK who have been appealing to the British authorities for a long time to actively help overcome the political crisis in BiH caused by the secessionist activities of Milorad Dodik and representatives of the RS entity authorities.

Alicia Kearns MP, Patron of BH UK Network and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated: “These sanctions show that those who attempt to undermine the legitimacy and functionality of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and sow hatred and division for their political goals will face consequences.

The United Kingdom will always be a friend to all Bosnians – regardless of their religion or faith – and the sanctions announced only target corrupt politicians who would seek to undermine the hard-won peace settlement contained in Dayton.

As the head of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the British Parliament, I called for sanctions to be imposed on Milorad Dodik and Željka Cvijanović, and I welcome the Government's imposition of asset freezes and travel bans on these two destabilizing figures. I am proud that the United Kingdom is a leading country on the international stage when it comes to supporting peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and I will continue to work in the British Parliament on further measures if necessary.”

Chairman of “Remembering Srebrenica” and Patron of BH UK Network, Dr Waqar Azmi OBE said:

“Since September last year, “Remembering Srebrenica” has been working diligently with parliamentarians from across the political spectrum in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Bosnia, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Srebrenica, as well as key individuals and organizations to hold parliamentary debates and advocate for strong action against all those who, encouraged by Russia, destabilize peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina by inciting hatred, denying genocide, and promoting divisive rhetoric for the withdrawal of Republika Srpska from key state institutions, which would be tantamount to secession – including the re-establishment of the Bosnian Serb army – an institution responsible for the genocide in Srebrenica, and we are grateful to every person, including our eleven British committees and 1,450 champions. We are grateful to the Government of the United Kingdom for its firm stance and sanctions against Milorad Dodik and Željka Cvijanović whose destabilizing actions are supported by the concept of uniting the “Serbian World” – an idea alarmingly similar to the “Greater Serbia” of former President Slobodan Milošević, and we must not allow genocide deniers to be rewarded or the international community to stand by again.”

This action by the UK Government is one of a series of measures to preserve both a unified BiH and peace in the Balkans, and of course, to facilitate life throughout BiH and to start thinking about the return of politicians to state institutions, all in the interest of better living conditions for citizens throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.