Nelson: US ready for sanctions, BiH citizens should sanction corrupt politicians at the polls

(Patria) - The US administration is ready to impose new sanctions on individuals in BiH involved in criminal and corrupt activities, said US Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson for BN television. He calls on citizens in BiH to sanction corrupt politicians at the elections.

BiH is in a serious political crisis, and therefore the US administration's interest in this area has increased, says Ambassador Nelson. He calls on all politicians to try to reach an agreement and a solution, in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement. Otherwise, the US ambassador warns:

- Sanctions are on the table. It is a sanctions regime for those who undermine stability in the Western Balkans. The new version of the executive order includes corruption and includes the possibility of sanctioning those who support those who undermine progress. The fundamental problem here is that corruption in this country is enormous, and the political crisis is an easy and quick way for politicians to distract from the real issues, the problems that exist, and to continue to undermine the institutions that should fight corruption and hold them accountable, said US Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson.

Nelson points out that if there are sanctions, they will be directed against individuals, not the entire nation. He adds that US sanctions will not solve the problem of corrupt politicians in BiH. It is up to the citizens to sanction such leaders at the elections, and that is why we advocate for the reform of the electoral process, says Nelson, and in response to the statement that they themselves brought Milorad Dodik to power, bypassing elections and the will of the citizens, he replies:

- We are always ready to work with those who have common goals with us, and some politicians, at certain periods of their careers, had goals that we also had, which is simply to heal wounds and divisions, for the country to progress, for institutions to strengthen, for citizens to feel that everyone is equal, said the US Ambassador to BiH.

Nelson assures that the US administration supports the Dayton concept of BiH, two entities, three constituent peoples, and others.

- We have no intention of working to abolish Republika Srpska; rather, our goal is reforms that will strengthen the rule of law, claims the Ambassador of the United States of America to BiH Eric Nelson.