Despite Sanctions: Cvijanović Meets with Republican Senators in Washington

(Patria) - Despite being on the US blacklist, BiH Presidency Chairwoman Željka Cvijanović met with US Republican Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bernie Moreno in Washington today.

On her Instagram profile, Cvijanović wrote that during two separate meetings, she expressed full support for the policies of the new US administration, which she stated are focused on dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts in Europe and the world.



"I emphasized that this is fully in line with the positions of the institutions of Republika Srpska, which are committed to preserving peace and stability in BiH and the region," Cvijanović stated.

She pointed out, she says, the importance of preserving the Dayton Peace Agreement and its annexes, as well as the constitutional position of all constituent peoples and different levels of government in BiH.

"I expressed expectations that BiH will begin to live a democratic life, without the dictates of unelected foreigners who impose laws and suspend constitutions, as well as hope that BiH will develop independently in the future, using its own democratic capacities," Cvijanović said.

The meeting took place despite US sanctions imposed on Cvijanović in July 2023, reports Istraga.ba.

The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Cvijanović at the time due to her responsibility for inciting the adoption of laws in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska (NSRS), which declare the decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH inapplicable in that entity, thereby obstructing and endangering the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

"BiH Presidency member Željka Cvijanović also met with Dodik before the adoption of the law and confirmed her absolute agreement with him regarding future decisions.

Cvijanović publicly defended the actions after the adoption of the Law on the Non-application of Decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH.



On April 11, 2022, she was included in the list of sanctioned persons by the United Kingdom for undermining the legitimacy and functionality of BiH," the OFAC decision states.

At that time, sanctions were also imposed on Nenad Stevandić, Radovan Višković, and Miloš Bukejlović.

Cvijanović had also previously received a US visa to speak at a UN Security Council session.

Since 2023, Željka Cvijanović has not traveled to the US, not even to New York to the United Nations. However, after the change of administration in the US, the situation has apparently changed.