Germany urging sanctions against Bosnian Serb officials, say reports

Radio Free Europe reports that Germany has proposed to other EU Member States, that sanctions should be imposed on ‘officials of the Serbian-majority entity that makes up part of Bosnia-Herzegovina who have threatened to unilaterally withdraw from state institutions established under the 1995 peace accord that ended the Bosnian War.’ There are also reports that the United States is considering a similar move.

It said that the German government had asked the EU European External Action Service (‘EEAS’) to draft a sanctions proposal on 17 November, and that such sanctions would apply to ‘persons who seriously endanger the security situation’ or undermine the Dayton peace accords that govern the Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation – the two constituent parts of Bosnia.

It says that, if sanctions are agreed, Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, sanctioned by the United States in 2017, would be ‘at the top of the list’ according to EU officials. Dodik has said that he may withdraw from participation in key state-level institutions, including the judiciary and military, which some observers fear could lead to renewed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In 2017, OFAC said that Dodik was being designated ‘for his role in defying the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in violation of the rule of law, thereby actively obstructing the Dayton Accords.’

A Bosnian news portal has published a letter from Antony Blinken, in which the US Secretary of State warns, ‘As a signing witness of the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA), the United States reiterates that moves to unilaterally withdraw from state-level institutions or otherwise destabilize the DPA will be met with appropriate action, including the consideration of sanctions.’