As it was found out from diplomatic sources, Germany has launched a process of discussing sanctions for key culprits for the political and security crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) at the European Union (EU) headquarters in Brussels.
According to the report of High Representative (HR) Christian Schmidt, this primarily refers to Milorad Dodik, but also to all those individuals and companies that financially or otherwise support destructive policies. Before leaving BiH, the United States (U.S.) envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, also said the other day that sanctions are on the table and that they apply to individuals, but also to companies.
A meeting at the level of EU ambassadors was held in Brussels on Tuesday. It is unknown at this time whether Germany has proposed specific sanctions or has just launched sanctions talks as an option.
Since it is difficult to expect a consensus of all members of the EU, it has long been the most likely option for states to impose sanctions individually. It is clear that the sanctions will be imposed primarily by the U.S., and that the United Kingdom (UK), which is clear from the messages coming from those countries so far.
But, it is increasingly likely that other EU countries could take that path as well. And this is exactly what will be discussed in Brussels these days. Germany is the one that started the process, and what conclusions will follow should be clearer in the middle of the month, when the EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation in the Western Balkans (including BiH). What is clear is that each step will be negotiated in detail with the U.S.
The next steps on sanctions will depend on the set framework after Escobar’s visit to Sarajevo, but also the visit that will follow in the upcoming period, given that Derek Chollet, a special political task specialist of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is coming to BiH.
However, given the rhetoric and political moves of Milorad Dodik, who, despite the U.S. and European warnings, continues to unilaterally withdraw from BiH institutions, sanctions are more likely to be introduced.
In the previous period, U.S. diplomat James O’Brien, in charge of the sanctions process, also visited Brussels, and it is obviously one of the topics that occupies American-European relations.
E.Dz.
source: klix.ba
