DER STANDARD: Varhelyi obviously coordinates his actions with separatist Dodik!

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Journalist of the Austrian newspaper Der Standard, Adelheid Wolfl, explained why the role of European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in Bosnia and Herzegovina is controversial.

She particularly criticised Milorad Dodik.

She noted that some parties have requested an investigation into whether Varhelyi indeed reached a non-transparent agreement with the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and leader of the SNSD, Milorad Dodik, whom she described as an "extreme right-winger". She portrayed him as a politician who wants to "destroy Bosnia and Herzegovina".

"The SNSD, under Dodik's leadership, has been threatening since October this year to withdraw the Republika Srpska from state institutions. However, he has long advocated for the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was a war goal from the 1990s. The National Assembly of Republika Srpska (NSRS) adopted a law withdrawing the entity from the Agency for Medicines of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Wolfl pointed out.

She reminded that for some media in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Varhelyi's behaviour indicates that part of the international community, as she stated, covertly supports Dodik's secessionist intentions.

"Hungary's role in the region is viewed with particular suspicion," she added, as reported by klix.ba.

She pointed out that Hungarian diplomacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been perceived as one-sided.

She also noted that the European Commission could approve grants of 642.8 million euros for Republika Srpska, but there are those who oppose this. Among those opposing is Dutch Green Left MEP Tineke Strik. As a reason why she thinks this is unacceptable, Strik highlighted Dodik's secessionist plans.

The Der Standard journalist emphasised that Republika Srpska urgently needs the money, citing as an indicator that it previously borrowed on the Vienna and London stock exchanges by issuing bonds. The Vienna Stock Exchange could not answer whether Bosnia and Herzegovina would be liable if Republika Srpska could not pay its debt.

"Coordination between Dodik and Varhelyi"

In the continuation, she problematised Varhelyi's actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Varhelyi's commitment to Dodik is not only a problem because of financial injections. It is obvious that he coordinates his actions with Dodik," she underlined.

Citing documents, she stated that the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Dodik agreed on a deadline for holding the NSRS session at which the transfer of competencies from the state to the entity level would be considered.

Wolfl assessed that Varhelyi wants to change the law banning the denial of the Srebrenica genocide and other war crimes, in a way that suits Dodik. She noted that this EU official, who is a member of Hungary's ruling far-right Fidesz party, clearly blamed the former High Representative Valentin Inzko, who imposed the said law, for the political crisis.

"Nationalists deny or minimise war crimes. However, since this law came into force, denial and glorification of war criminals have become rarer," she added.

Der Standard journalist Adelheid Wolfl pointed out that "the populist Hungarian government clearly supports nationalists in the Western Balkans." In support of this statement, she highlighted that Hungary announced it would not support EU sanctions against Dodik.