At yesterday’s meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers, only Hungary and Croatia were against the introduction of sanctions against Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) leader Milorad Dodik, it was found out. The final decision will be made after the EU’s annual sanctions framework is adopted in late March.
According to a well-informed source from Brussels, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Greece did not oppose the sanctions yesterday, while Germany and the Netherlands were most in favor of sanctioning those who undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement and destabilize the situation in the country.
At the end of March, the framework of the EU for sanctions, which is adopted every year, should be adopted. Following the adoption of the EU sanctions framework, sanctions against Dodik will be back on the EU Council’s agenda. Before the vote on sanctions against Milorad Dodik, everyone wants to renew that annual framework for sanctions.
If all members of the EU do not agree on sanctions against Dodik, the countries will start the process individually.
At yesterday’s meeting, the diplomats of Austria and Romania were very harsh when it comes to sanctioning regime officials in the Republika Srpska (RS).
”In case the unilateral takeover from the state to the RS entity is implemented, then individual restrictive measures should be considered on the basis of this decision of the Council (freezing of property/travel ban for individuals and legal persons),” it was stated in the proposal of the draft document to the EU Council for Foreign Affairs.
To recall, the European Parliament last week condemned the secessionism of the leader Milorad Dodik and called on the European Council to impose sanctions on the leader of the SNSD and his associates.
E.Dz.
Source: Klix.ba