The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Natasa Pirc Musar, spoke out for the first time after the decision of the government of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian (BiH) entity Republika Srpska (RS) to ban her from entering that part of BiH. She assessed that Slovenian sanctions against the leader of SNSD, Milorad Dodik, are justified and thanked the Mothers of Srebrenica for their support.
After the Government of RS, whose legality will soon be considered by the Constitutional Court of BiH, on Thursday banned the entry into the entity of the President of Slovenia, Natasa Pirc Musar, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon, the Slovenian president commented for the first time on Banja Luka’s move.
“I have always advocated for a united BiH and its entry into the European Union (EU). Every politician and statesman who wants good for this country must be aware that the future of BiH is in the EU,” said Pirc Musar during a visit to Vienna. She assessed that Slovenia was right to impose sanctions against the former president of the RS, Milorad Dodik.
“What pleases me the most is the support of the Mothers of Srebrenica, who told me and the minister of foreign affairs that we are always welcome in BiH,” added Pirc Musar.
The Government of Slovenia, at its session on Thursday, adopted a ban on Dodik’s entry. Soon after, the authorities in RS retaliated with the same measure, although according to the Constitution of BiH, they have no right, against Pirc Musar and Fajon. From BiH, warnings are coming that this is an empty measure, since the area of foreign policy is under the jurisdiction of the state of BiH, and not the entity. This was confirmed by Dr. Faris Kocan from the Department of International Relations of the Faculty of Social Sciences, who assessed the move more as a rhetorical measure.
