Escobar: Sanctions target leaders and companies economically supporting them

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - We reject any unilateral attempts to withdraw someone from central institutions to create dysfunctionality of central institutions and to move towards secession from any entity from the central institutions, said Gabriel Escobar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, today in Banja Luka in an interview for BHT to be broadcast tonight.

The first message he wanted to send was that there will be no war, and to protect the Dayton Peace Agreement and preserve the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He said his message to Milorad Dodik was that "we reject in the strongest possible way any activities that would threaten Dayton, the peace agreement that has ensured peace for 25 years."

When asked how far or close Washington's decision to activate sanctions is and what action could trigger the application of such measures, he said he does not like to talk about sanctions.

"Our partnerships with this country are the essence of economic development, economic growth, and European integration. I do not talk about sanctions openly because I do not want people to spin it in a way that RS will be sanctioned, people in this region have suffered enough.

However, these sanctions target individuals and leaders must be personally responsible. We have discussed sanctions, sanctions are on the table, and not only sanctions, there are other economic measures that can be implemented against not only leaders who are pursuing anti-Dayton activities but also those who provide economic support, companies that support them," said Escobar.

Escobar has been staying in BiH since Sunday, and today he was in Banja Luka where he held meetings with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, opposition leaders, and leaders of the Youth Council from eight parties. On Monday, he held meetings with BiH politicians, but not with opposition leaders.