German Minister for Europe and Climate Anna Luhrmann told journalists in Sarajevo yesterday that the secessionist policy of Republika Srpska (RS) is unacceptable and that Germany is lobbying for new sanctions in the European Union (EU).
She said that Srebrenica was one of the first crises she witnessed.
“That’s why it was very important for me to attend the commemoration and pay respect to the victims,” Luhrmann noted.
She pointed out that she came to BiH to show that Germany is committed to political stability in BiH and the region and its European future.
“Nevertheless, it is not yet time for BiH’s candidate status, until the reforms are implemented,” Luhrmann said, adding that many steps back have been made and that the country is going through the biggest crisis since 1995.
“The secessionist policy of the RS entity is unacceptable,” Lugrmann believes.
She pointed out that Germany has already sent a clear signal in this sense by suspending four financial projects worth more than 100 million euros, i.e. the reconstruction of the hydroelectric power plant in Trebinje, the construction of a wind farm in eastern Herzegovina and the wastewater treatment system in Bosanska Gradiska.
“We are talking with EU countries to extend the sanctions,” said the minister.
She believes that the recently adopted resolution of the Bundestag on BiH is a confirmation that BiH is high on the list of priorities of the German government.
The meeting at the German embassy was also attended by Ambassador Margret Uebber, who told that Germany insists on adopting a package on the integrity of the electoral process, which would prevent electoral fraud.
She also commented on the possibility that one of the political actors would try to block the implementation of the elections and the potential response of Germany.
“It is difficult to predict political moves in advance, the reaction will depend on what happens,” said Uebber, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
