5 hours agoBosnian media: Germany launches discussions on sanctions against Dodik and others
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)Germany has launched a process of discussing sanctions for the main culprits for the political and security crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the European Union headquarters in Brussels, Klx reports, referring to diplomatic sources. According to High Representative Christian Schmidt's report, this refers primarily to Milorad Dodik, but [...]
According to High Representative Christian Schmidt's report, this refers primarily to Milorad Dodik, but also to all those individuals and companies who support financially or otherwise destructive policies.
On the eve of BiH's departure, even the US envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said yesterday that sanctions are on the table and that they apply to individuals, but also to companies.
A meeting at the EU ambassador level was held yesterday in Brussels. It is not known at the moment whether Germany has proposed specific sanctions or has just started sanctions talks as an option.
Since it is difficult to expect a consensus of all EU members, it has long been the most likely option for states to impose individual sanctions. It is clear that sanctions will be imposed in the first place by the US and that Great Britain will be the first to follow, which is evident from the current messages from those countries.
However, it is more and more likely that other European Union countries can take that path. And that's exactly what will be discussed in Brussels these days. Germany is what has started today and what conclusions will follow should be clearer in mid-month, when EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation in the Western Balkans and therefore in BiH. What is clear is that each step will be negotiated in detail with the United States.
The next steps for sanctions will depend on the framework imposed following Escobar's visit to Sarajevo, but also on Derek Chollet, the state secretary's special political task specialist, who will soon come to Bosnia for a visit.
However, in view of Milorad Dodik's rhetoric and political movements, which, despite American and European warnings, continues to withdraw unilaterally from BiH institutions, sanctions are increasingly possible.
In the preliminary period Brussels was also visited by US diplomat James O'Brien, responsible for the sanctions process, which is obviously one of the topics in American-European relations.
