WROTE TO EU DIPLOMACY CHIEFS: MEPs seek sanctions for Dodik and RS leadership

(Patria) - A group of members of the European Parliament sent a letter today to the foreign ministers of EU member states calling for sanctions against BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik and other individuals responsible for undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement. The letter was sent following a debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday about the situation in BiH.

The letter states that Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing its most severe political crisis since the end of the war, “directly caused” by the actions of BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik and his SNSD party.

“The unconstitutional boycott of legitimate state institutions by the party, introduced last July due to the adoption of the law on the denial of genocide, was implemented as a first step in concretising his secessionist agenda for the Republika Srpska,” the letter states, explaining Dodik's initiative to withdraw the entity from numerous institutions.

“The recent announcement of the creation of an army of the Republika Srpska entity and the provocative paramilitary exercises carried out by RS police forces near Sarajevo have shown that Mr. Dodik is not backing down and is willing to use force to achieve his goals, and that he feels emboldened by the direct and indirect support of Serbia and Russia, as well as the lack of response from the EU,” it states.

It is stated that BiH, 26 years after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, is still largely under international supervision with the institution of the High Representative and EUFOR military forces “which, unfortunately, are still needed to monitor the implementation of the Peace Agreement.”

“However, this international supervision carries great responsibility. The responsibility of active and direct engagement in BiH to help the country on its path towards a responsible and well-functioning democracy. This includes the need to react and restore the provisions of the Dayton Peace Agreement, in case there is a threat to peace through the destruction of the territorial integrity and established joint structures of the country,” the letter states.

It is stated that in recent months, the international community, and especially the EU collectively, “has not fulfilled this responsibility” and has not imposed any consequences for serious violations of the Dayton Peace Agreement by the political leadership of the Republika Srpska.

The MEPs recall that the situation in BiH was discussed at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 15 November but without a concrete and strong result, and that the conclusions “did not reflect the urgency” of the situation and that those responsible for the situation were not clearly named.

“Mr. Dodik is encouraged by such a lack of action from the EU, which is also evidenced by the fact that on the first day of the meeting, he confirmed the continuation of the previously mentioned voting in the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska,” it states.

“It is obvious that Mr. Dodik is not interested in building democratic institutions and an inclusive, unified and peaceful BiH. Serious international pressure is needed to stop him from pursuing his secessionist ethno-nationalist agenda.

Therefore, we call on you to support the imposition of firm sanctions on Mr. Dodik and all other individuals within or close to the RS leadership who are responsible for and/or support the violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. This is the only sustainable way to preserve peace and the territorial integrity of BiH. By simply continuing dialogue with these leaders, one of whom openly threatens secession, without appropriate consequences, the EU de facto allows the violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, and thus the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH,” it adds.

The MEPs called for the urgent implementation of “Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/543 of 26 March 2021 amending Decision 2011/173/CFSP concerning restrictive measures” given the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was made for the purpose of sanctioning individuals whose activities threaten the sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order and international legal personality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to sanction persons associated with them.

“Given that the actions of the RS leadership and their supporters meet all the above criteria, we call on you to act and propose to the Foreign Affairs Council the establishment of a list of those responsible for the crisis, as well as natural and legal persons associated with them, including, for example, officials, politicians, security personnel, companies, athletes and sports associations, to whom the sanctions established by the aforementioned Council Decision apply,” the letter states.

The letter is signed by MEPs from the Greens/European Free Alliance (EFA) group Reinhard Butikofer, Tineke Strik and Romeo Franz, MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), Michael Gahler, and the rapporteur for BiH Paulo Rangel from the same party, MEPs from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Tonino Picula and Dietmar Koster, and Hilde Vautmans and Klemen Groselj from the Renew Europe group.

“Following the clear conclusions of Tuesday's debate in the European Parliament, a broad coalition of key MEPs from the four largest political groups in the EP now specifically calls on EU foreign ministers to impose sanctions on Mr. Dodik,” said MEP Strik.

“The outcome of the EU ministers' meeting last week shows that there is still a lack of a sense of urgency regarding the seriousness of the situation in BiH. This letter is a wake-up call to the ministers and a reminder of the special responsibility that the international community and the EU have for protecting the Dayton Peace Agreement and the sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order and international legal personality of BiH. Anyone who challenges this, as Dodik is currently doing, must face the consequences and must face firm sanctions from the EU,” she added.

Member states will hold a session on 15 December at which possible sanctions will be determined, N1 reports.