The US denies Dodik is “ready for the EU”: You’re embracing Putin

The US embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has denied Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik is ready for the European Union. The embassy has written about his relationship with Vladimir Putin and his destabilizing actions against the Dayton Agreement.

“Milorad Dodik claims he is ‘ready for the EU’, but his embrace of Vladimir Putin and Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, his rhetoric and actions against Dayton, and his attacks on state-level institutions needed to navigate Bosnia-Herzegovina’s journey to Euro-Atlantic integration rebut Mr. Dodik’s claim.”

The American Embassy has written that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions requires the joint efforts of all political actors.

“Instead of engaging in good faith in negotiations with his government coalition partners, Mr. Dodik has continued to practice a policy of blockade and blackmail while trying to blame others for the lack of progress. The 1+3 conditions set by the European Union are clear and easy to understand. The standards needed to meet these requirements are straightforward and simple. The question for Mr. Dodik is whether he is willing to do the work required to meet these conditions, which could and should have been completed months ago. So far, the answer is “no,” the embassy wrote.

“Mr. Dodik’s ultimatums do not represent a commitment of good faith to his coalition partners and do not reflect a genuine commitment to the EU. The biggest obstacle on the path to a European future for Bosnia and Herzegovina is Mr. Dodik and his destructive policies. He now wants to evade responsibility for his actions, but if BiH does not take another step forward in March, it is clear where the blame will lie: with Mr. Dodik,” the message concluded.

This is the next reaction of many others against the Serbian nationalist politician, who finds support for all his actions in official Belgrade and the Serbian church. Dodik has often threatened with separation.

“We are seriously considering making a decision on the independence and secession of Republika Srpska [from Bosnia] if the property issue is not resolved,” Dodik said from Belgrade last year when he was hosted by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

Dodik is sanctioned by the US and the UK for attempts at destabilization and corruption, and he has repeatedly threatened to demand the independence of Republika Srpska from the rest of Bosnia. /The Geopost