“As the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) deepens and there is no a decisive response from the European Union (EU), the eyes of BiH citizens are not on Brussels, but on Washington and London, and the United Kingdom (UK) is in a good position to implement measures aimed at combating growing instability in the country, ” writes Hamza Karcic from the Faculty of Political Science in Sarajevo for the British Research Center “Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies” (RUSI), according to N1.
Karcic stated in a text for RUSI that as the crisis in BiH enters its seventh month, tensions continue to erupt in this corner of Europe, and what began as a boycott of state-level institutions last July by politicians from Republika Srpska (RS) entity turned into “the worst security crisis since 1995 ”.
An existential threat
”This is nothing less than an existential threat to Bosnia,” warned Karcic.
The main driver of this process is BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik, who, as Karcic writes, “has dominated political life in RS for the past 15 years, and now holds BiH hostage to his separatist ambitions.”
Deepening of the crisis
Karcic mentioned that now that the crisis is deepening, the eyes of many BiH citizens are not on Brussels, but on Washington and London, and that response of the UK to the crisis in BiH is encouraging – the appointment of Sir Stuart Peach as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, a debate in the House of Lords on the importance of BiH’s territorial integrity, and a debate on the situation in BiH in the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
First, the UK and the United States (U.S.) should lead the process of deploying NATO forces in BiH, Karcic suggested, stressing that “the escalating situation requires a decisive response” and a presence in the field.
Assets freezing
Second, the UK should impose sanctions on separatist RSpoliticians, and the Office of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO) should work on drafting a package of sanctions. He noted that sanctions should be imposed on Dodik, his close associates, and politicians in the executive and legislative branches who are involved in leading or supporting the secession process. Furthermore, business entities and media that support this initiative should be sanctioned.
Third, the UK should follow the example of the U.S. in imposing sanctions on high-profile corrupt politicians from all over BiH in accordance with the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions of 2021, Karcic writes.
Fourth, the UK should take steps to prevent access to the current separatist ruling elite in RS on the London Stock Exchange.
Fifth, the UK Foreign Affairs Committee should closely monitor the crisis in BiH and provide advice on specific measures that the FCDO could take.
E.Dz.
Source: Avaz
