It is reasonable to expect more American sanctions for those who undermine the peace, stability and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, she said today in a conversation with representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Media Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Anna Morris.
As she said, she is visiting BiH to basically discuss three things: the progress made in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, activities that undermine peace and stability in BiH, including anti-Dayton rhetoric, as well as endemic corruption, and to discuss broader issues related to financing and sanctions against Russia.
“I will say that we are still very focused on these issues. As you could see in the past few years, the United States of America imposed several sets of sanctions in BiH in connection with these activities and it is reasonable to expect more American sanctions for those who undermine the peace, stability and territorial integrity of BiH,” said Morris.
She emphasizes that the United States is very focused on promoting peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Sanctions are intended to achieve a couple of goals – one is to publicly send a signal about our specific concerns about activities related to sanctioned individuals. These activities include undermining peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As I said, I think it is to be expected that we will continue to use these sanctions as a tool. This makes it difficult for those actors to engage in international financial transactions, to travel to the USA and raises the profile of the international community in relation to actors whose behavior is of serious concern to us,” she said.
She welcomed the recent adoption of a new law against money laundering and terrorist financing at the BiH level. She assessed that this is a very important step towards continuing to raise the level of transparency in relation to the financial sector in order to be able to identify and stop the financing of terrorism as well as money laundering in the best possible way, “so we really support the activities of the financial authorities and all institutions involved in financial system that strengthens resistance to money laundering and terrorist financing”.
Morris could not talk about the specific bank accounts that those on the “blacklist” have or do not have, but the act of sanctions is to draw international attention to activities that the United States is very concerned about because of the potential consequences.
The situation around the world is carefully monitored, the activities of financial institutions around the world are monitored.
“The reason for this is as follows. If the sanctioned person does not have assets or accounts in the US, it would be risky for international and local banks to allow these parties to have accounts with them. It is important to convey to the financial sector here, that sanctions related to Bosnia and Herzegovina do not only apply to sanctioned persons or entities, but carry risks for anyone who supports such persons or entities. This is called the Regulation on Material Support, and it means that if a financial institution carries out a transaction for a sanctioned person or entity in BiH, it means that that financial institution or bank exposes itself to the risk of sanctions. It was very important for us to convey this message to the banking sector here in the country so that they understand the possible consequences of the sanctions,” said Morris.
(Photo: Fena/Hazim Aljović)
