The advisor to the president of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian (BiH) entity Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, in an attempt to justify the diplomatic scandal following the expulsion of the German government representative last week, stated that the visit of Minister Anna Luhrmann was “unannounced.” However, Luhrmann told the German media that the visit was “regularly” announced, and she commented on Dodik’s move, stating that he is “with his back against the wall” and “desperate.”
It should be recalled that Dodik’s advisor Aurora Weiss stated that, according to a security assessment, Luhrmann “endangered her own life and the life of her delegation” with an “unannounced visit” after previously imposing sanctions against officials who “enjoy great support from the citizens.”
Luhrmann told German media that this was her fourth visit to BiHduring her term.
“We support the country on its path to the European Union (EU). So far, I have always been in Sarajevo and Srebrenica. This time I also visited the city of Banja Luka,” she stated, and recounted that she met there with representatives of the opposition and civil society.
“It is a beautiful city, and I met very engaged people. I would have gladly stayed longer, but then the local authorities called our security into question. The visit was meant to be a sign that we stand with all citizens,” she said.
Then she emphasized: “We can no longer tolerate the dangerous incitement coming from Dodik. He is more and more aggressively pursuing his separatist goals, inciting against certain groups of people and violating the country’s constitution. He is trying to undermine the laws of the state. That is why a warrant for his arrest was issued. He is trying to force state officials to move into the institutions of RS. But his nationalist agenda has no support among the citizens,” she stated, and explained that this is why Germany and Austria imposed sanctions against “those responsible for this dangerous policy.”
Luhrmann then described in more detail what happened:
“The trip from Sarajevo to Banja Luka was announced completely regularly, and we were accompanied by police at the state level and from RS. We had a lovely walk, an excellent lunch, and great conversations. Then the police of RS made it increasingly clear that we should leave the city. In the end, they told us they could no longer guarantee our safety. We had to leave immediately or we would be escorted out. I was declared a ‘persona non grata‘.“
She stated that this was a response to the imposition of sanctions on Dodik, but that “RS cannot even issue such a ban on entry.”
She emphasized that, fortunately, the delegation did not encounter nationalist “extremists.”
“But it was clear that at one point our safety was at risk. That’s why we left the city,” she added.
Then she assessed the situation in BiH:
“Dodik is pressed with his back against the wall. His behavior only shows how desperate he is. His policy has no support among the citizens. At a recently organized protest which he called for, barely any participants showed up. His illegal draft constitution stands no chance of gaining a majority in the entity’s assembly. People across BiH overwhelmingly want to be part of the EU, not a separatist constitution.”
Then she mentioned something that, as she said, “especially touched” her:
“I received many messages from people in Banja Luka, from Sarajevo, but also from Germans of BiH origin. They clearly told me: ‘That’s not us. We value hospitality, and you are always welcome.'”
In the end, she stated that the EU “must stay on the set course.“
“The EU unanimously adopted a decision clearly condemning Dodik’s actions. We know that the United States (U.S.) is on our side. Now it must be clearly shown where the red lines have been crossed. There must be no rotten compromises. How a government with stable relations will be formed is a decision for the people on the ground. We support them on the path to the rule of law,” said the German minister.
