Rama urged them not to silence Dodik's dangerous statement, EU says von der Leyeen was clear in Sarajevo

The EU broke the silence in a response to Gazeta Express, where it said they have it in principle not to comment on politicians' statements, but that the answer to it is EU chief Ursula von der Leenen's conference in Sarajevo, which clearly said that Bosnia's future is in Union.

“We do not comment statements and we will refer to President von der Leyen's clear statement about Bosnia and Herzegovina's future in the EU as a single, united and sovereign country”, the EU said.

What did von der Leyen say in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

My first message in essence is to reiterate that Bosnia and Herzegovina's future is in the European Union and how much we want to have you as a full member of the European Union and how strong our support is in your path forward towards this goal”, said von der Leyen at a joint conference with Borjana KriXto, chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The president of the European Commission said the government's appointment in Bosnia and work done in the first year in office show that the country can be out. She pointed out that Bosnia enters the EU as a sovereign and united state.

We all know that respect for constitutional order, of founding freedoms and civil society is at the core of EU values and essential on the European road. Bosnia and Herzegovina's future is in the European Union as a single, united and sovereign country”.

Von der Leenen concluded the conference with a pledge to the Balkan state.

And I'm here to refresh you and assure you that we stand on your side and that we want you to progress, like Bosnia and Herzegovina, towards the European Union”.

What was Dodik's statement?

The president of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbs, who is sanctioned by the US and United Kingdom, said that “Great Serbia” is needed at this time

We live in an era when after a few years or decades a new global configuration will have to be created, and Serbs should not be taken by surprise. But now we must say that in this century we want a single state consisting of Republika Srpska, Serbia, Kosovo and whether such a decision is democratic, even Montenegro”, he told Russian propaganda media “Sputnik”

Afterwards, he claimed to appear peaceful, saying his dangerous idea could be implemented “with political measures, not war”.

Montenegro's response

This statement was initially reacted to Montenegro's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has reminded him of the independent state and NATO member, calling on Dodik “to refrain from expansionist and nationalist rhetoric and to act politically and responsibly, in the spirit of friendly relations”. Montenegro's MPJ says the country is focused on the European future and not on retrograde ideas, which <x2) live thanks to nationalist rhetoric and politicians' aspirations set by the region”.

The EU candidate country said it is for a good neighbourhood and not for such backward policies as Dodik's. Montenegro also complained that they often speak of territorial claims.

“This is not the first time that Montenegro's future has become the object of inappropriate and unacceptable comments for the purposes of local political situations in the region, and/or with the aim of deliberately undermining good neighbourly relations, European perspective and the security of the region, we invite Mr. Dodik's refraining from expansionist and nationalist rhetoric and behaving politically and responsibly in the spirit of friendly relations, as fed by Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina”, MPJ of Montenegro said.

Later, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic himself commented.

It is very clear to all that it was a bad statement that I condemned as Montenegro's president. We have clearly rounded citizenship and strongly followed the path towards the EU. For the sake of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we expect BiH to join us on this journey. That's all I'm going to say to”, Milatovic said.

Unlike the EU, the US came out with a long statement to condemn.

American Ambassador to Sarajevo Michael J. Murphy, has counted Dodik's failures as leader until he stresses that the Bosnian Serb plight is the breakup of this country.

He said that the United States of America is steadfast in their commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), territorial integrity, sovereignty and multiethnic character, adding that our <x0-politicalities are neither anti-Serb nor anti-Bosnian nor anti-Anthropoate, but are pro-Bosnia-BiH firmly.

Mr. “Dodik, in which he calls for the collapse of state borders in the Western Balkans to create a single Serbian state, clearly shows that. Such statements not only destabilise Bosnia and Herzegovina but also threaten the security and stability of the region. This recent escalation comes after a continuing campaign of rhetoric and destabilising actions aimed at undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr. Dodik is blocking the government, threatening peace and trying to blackmail or provoke other political leaders in the country, as well as the international community, instead of engaging, with confidence, in negotiations and compromises needed to adopt reforms needed to bring citizens closer to the European Union. In Republika Srpska, Mr. Dodik works to deny residents their fundamental rights and freedoms, such as media freedom, speech and rally, in order to protect themselves from criticism and accountability”, the US ambassador said.