Borrell warns troubled Dodik: EU won't tolerate minimation of Bosnian stability

Borrell, who will arrive in Sarajevo on Wednesday as part of a regional mini-tour, sent a special letter to Dodik on the eve of his arrival, saying his claims and other Republika Srpska officials on the Dayton Agreement.

Borrell thus commented on Republika Srpska's Parliament's decisions to take steps to enable entity to take over competencies to appoint judges and prosecutors, which is now the task of the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council and to establish a drug entity, though such an agency already exists at the state level.

Dodik announced that these are only the first steps and that the next step will be for Republika Srpska to take over the collection of customs duties and competencies in the field of defence and security.

Besides the apparent lack of legal base, actions initiated by Republika Srpska also have significant consequences for the state and its citizens”, said Borrell's letter, a copy of which was published by Dnevni Avaz.

Borrell warned that what authorities are doing in Banja Luka are undermining all efforts to make BiH an EU member and strongly condemned the fact that Serbian officials have been blocking their work since mid-year, trying to abolish a law banning denials of war crimes.

“Once Republika Srpska officials return to state institutions and make sure they are fully functional, the EU is ready to enable meaningful and intensive dialogue. If such a dialogue does not develop and activities for the dissolution of state institutions, the EU will have no choice but to start thinking about using all other instruments within its framework”, writes Borrell, clearly hinting at imposing sanctions.

Dodik, who is known for his pro-Russian views, also said unity and stability in Europe was needed to counter aggression against Ukraine as an unprecedented act.