”Western powers are looking for alternatives to secure international forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) if Russia blocks the resumption of a United Nations (UN)-backed peacekeeping mission, ” said the United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday.
Russia, a veto-wielding member of the Security Council, is critical of UN efforts in BiH but agreed in November to extend the UN’s one-year mandate for the European Union (EU)-led forces.
Since then, relations between West and Russia have deteriorated sharply. Russia invaded Ukraine in February, and Serb leaders in BiH have stepped up separatist rhetoric.
Some kind of mandated international force is needed to try to maintain a secure environment in BiH,” Blinken told the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in response to a question.
He also said the U.S. is planning to talk with allies on emergencies like this.
”If the mandate is not renewed in November, we are trying to ensure that we have something that will provide support,”Blinked stated.
Earlier this month, Russia’s embassy in Sarajevo warned that the West’s stance could cause ”destabilization” in BiH, sparking fears of an overflow from the Ukrainian conflict.
Russia’s statement came after the High Representative for BiH, Christian Schmidt, who is backed by the West but not recognized by Moscow, suspended a controversial law that would allow Republika Srpska (RS) to take over state property on their territory.
