US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina: We will not watch quietly if Dodik works to fuel a new conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The United States Embassy in BiH has responded to the latest statements and actions of the President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik.

“Milorad Dodik’s separatist rhetoric and threats to secede from Bosnia and Herzegovina constitute anti-Dayton actions that are irresponsible, dangerous, and detrimental to BiH’s integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions,” the embassy wrote.

As they stressed, “under the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, neither the entity nor any other sub-administrative unit has the right to secede, and the US will not stand idly by while Milorad Dodik seeks to foment a new conflict in BiH”.

“As it has been doing for thirty years, the United States will stand up to protect the territorial integrity, sovereignty and multi-ethnic character of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milorad Dodik’s rhetoric and threats are an attempt to distract attention from the real problems facing the citizens of Republika Srpska: the ongoing campaign for power deprivation of basic freedoms, failure to solve the problem of rising food, accommodation and transport prices, and continuous efforts to burden the future of the Republika Srpska with a mortgage through irresponsible borrowing by the government,” states the US reaction.

As regards Milorad Dodik’s threats to suspend cooperation with NATO, it is recalled that the 2005 Law on Defence obliges the state authorities to carry out the activities necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to NATO.

“This includes maintaining a strong partnership and cooperation with NATO. Milorad Dodik does not have the authority to unilaterally suspend or amend this or any other law,” the US Embassy concluded.

Regarding Milorad Dodik’s threats to stop cooperating with the NATO alliance, he is reminded that the Law on Defense from 2005 obliges the state authorities to carry out the activities necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the NATO alliance.

“This includes maintaining a strong partnership and cooperation with NATO. Milorad Dodik does not have the authority to unilaterally suspend or change this or any other law,” the US Embassy concludes.