Janjić: Americans also possess criminal evidence against Čović

(Patria) - Dušan Janjić, analyst and director of the Forum for Ethnic Relations, commented in a special on N1 on the sanctions announced yesterday by the United States against Milorad Dodik, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milan Tegeltija, former president of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (VSTV), and Mirsad Kukić, president of PDA (Tuzla) and representative in the BiH Parliament.

Janjić first noted that the sanctions are being discussed at a time when they have only been imposed on three individuals, and that for a more serious assessment, one should wait for all other sanctions that are coming in both Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“We already have experience with sanctions in northern Kosovo against the Veselinović and Radojčić brothers, who are also connected to politics. If we compare them to the sanctions that the Joe Biden administration also imposed, the new focus in the current sanctions is on corruption as undermining the foundations of democracy and the rule of law. Milorad Dodik did not attract general attention for no reason. He is a phenomenon, he is a symbol of the Balkan version of ethno-nationalism, which is spreading across Europe, and also America. We saw their attack on Congress, politicians of the same kind. So, one must look at this ethnic element here. If it remains this way, with no punishment on the other side, then Dodik has an open path towards the complete mobilization of the Serb electorate. And if it is balanced, but of course based on laws and facts, and sanctions against others as well. For example, I know for sure that since the time of the Petritch administration, there has been criminal and other evidence against Dragan Čović related to the Aluminum Combine and the bank that was managed in Mostar, and all of that is in the hands of the Americans. So, this is a process that is also political, but it aims at something else, to establish and encourage BiH, Serbia, and all Western Balkan countries to build a system of fighting corruption, and that is why Americans are sending anti-corruption advisors to their embassies and will be very active in encouraging the public,” Janjić explained.

He believes that Dodik has been maintained for a long time through skillful and manipulative games and the interests of many others.

“Both in Belgrade and in Sarajevo, and especially Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, and others where even Croatia has played that card of fanning the flames. So, many would like this to turn into a wave of secession, new conflicts, and the breakup of Bosnia and Herzegovina. That is why the sanctions came. They came at the moment when Dodik started the secession narrative and announced armed forces. I am absolutely convinced that Dodik wins the last two elections precisely on this fabricated story of secession, referendums, and abuses of the electoral process. He cannot win in democratic elections in RS, and the opposition has matured, as have the circumstances,” he added.

Janjić is of the opinion that most European Union countries will also impose sanctions.

“I don't even believe Orbán, especially I don't believe Slovenia won't impose them. All in all, there are many people in the European Union who think like Dodik, and that is bad for it. So, the EU as a whole will not impose sanctions, but individual states will, and then others will pretend to be naive in the name of common policy, as if they don't know Dodik and that something is happening, and they will secure their house, their account, because that's what it's about and something that should concern all of us, including EU citizens. And the point is that the EU is in a severe crisis, and Russia wants to 'harass' it for a longer period, and we must be prepared for such things,” Janjić stated.