German envoy for the Balkans: Serbia's sanctions against Russia ahead

Sarrazin has taken up this task, which has not existed in previous German governments in mid-February of this year. He is a member of the Green Party in Germany, while he was an MP for Bundestag for 13 years until 2021.

Otherwise, he is the fourth Western envoy for the region. From the US, in the post of special envoy is Gabriel Escobar, from the United Kingdom, is Sir Stuart Peach and from the European Union, Miroslav Lajcak, who is specifically in charge of Kosovo dialogue Serbia.

Asked how you see the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions caused by Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, with threats to partition the Republika Srpska, Sarrazzin says:

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's “vision in Bosnia and Herzegovina has shown that the German federal government has a strong focus on this country. Germany is closely following the current situation there. Because of the Russian war in Ukraine, Germany and the European Union will pay even greater attention to developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

According to him, the German government is aware that many people in Bosnia and Herzegovina are especially now seeking Germany's greatest commitment to security in the region.

In December last year, the new German government has called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Dodik due to Republika Srpska's withdrawal from the armed forces, the judiciary and tax system of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dodik, since the fall of last year, has launched a campaign to establish institutions of his entity, which has been strongly condemned by the EU and the US, which they described as unconstitutional transfer of competencies.

On January 5th, the US Treasury Department has published an extensive list of sanctions for corruption acts, including Dodik.

Commenting on the fact that Serbia has not joined sanctions against Russia due to Ukraine's invasion, Sarrazzin says harmonisation of the Western Balkans with the EU on this issue is crucial.

“In the foreign policy environment, as it is now, the state cannot be successful by confusing or gambling. The situation is now different from what it used to be”, Sarrazin says.

At the time of the Russian war in Ukraine, Europe must remain united, he says.

Therefore, the foreign policy approach of the Western Balkan countries to the EU on this issue is of crucial importance, including sanctions. We welcome [the fact] that most Western Balkan countries have already done so. But we expect Serbia to do the same. It is not possible to stand aside in this matter. Failure to impose sanctions does not mean neutrality, but means support for Russia”, Sarrazin says.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Serbia has said it offers full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, but not to mention Russia's attack on its neighbour.

Serbia, unlike other Balkan countries, has refused to impose sanctions on Russia, which the European Union has asked for.

As for Kosovo, Sarrazin has said in early March that it is understandable that Germany's commitment, which it recognises, is represented in international organisations.

Serbia does not recognise the Republic of Kosovo and undermines its membership in foreign organisations.

The two countries are trying to resolve disputes through a dialogue mediated by the European Union.

For Montenegro, which is in a phase of political instability where the new government is trying to form, and there is a strong division between Montenegrins and Serbs, with visible Russian influence in decision-making positions, Sarrazin believes his membership in NATO is the best guarantor of stability.

“In Montenegro, currently, we are still awaiting the outcome of internal political processes in terms of creating a new government. In general, I am deeply convinced that the EU enlargement path and a strong commitment to NATO are the best frameworks for stability in the region and in Montenegro”, Sarrazin says.

Asked how he comments on the calls of some American and European officials to speed up the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans to prevent the reflections of the war in Ukraine, Sarrazin says:

“Processes must be accelerated by meeting more quickly and better criteria. We need more credibility on the European road from both sides. First, the EU must approve the opening of membership negotiations with Northern Macedonia and Albania”.

But we also need a reliable process of reforms within the enlargement countries. The EU's common market and the unity and integrity of European values and laws are both sides of the same” medal, he says.

Of the six Western Balkan countries, NATO members are: Northern Macedonia since 2020, Montenegro since 2017 and Albania since 2009. Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia remain outside the alliance.

In the European Union, neither of the Western Balkan countries is yet a member of Serbia and Montenegro are candidate countries.