The Government of Republika Srpska (RS) is increasing allocations for its representative offices abroad, most notably for those in Vienna and Moscow. While continuing efforts aimed at weakening state institutions, the government justifies these investments to the public by citing economic and cultural ties; however, according to observers, the activities taking place on the ground are of a different nature. How is the RS Government spending budget funds?
Vienna and Moscow at the center of the increases
Although the budget for the representative office in Washington has been halved, this does not mean it is being shut down. The money trail, however, leads in other directions, revealing a new strategy by the RS: using Vienna as a hub to channel funds to lobbying firms in the United States. The RS Government’s decision to increase the budgets for nine of its international representative offices suggests that the underlying objective remains unchanged – only the channels have shifted. A total of 65.75 million convertible marks (KM) will be allocated for lobbying, rather than the 15 million originally approved.
“I believe this is an ad hoc increase. The funds had already been spent where they were originally earmarked; now, these gaps are being filled, and an additional 30 million KM is being funneled to the representative office in Vienna,” says Darko Momić, a journalist for the portal Capital.
Kapo: We know the goal; lobbying must be stopped
Banja Luka has once again bypassed the state and the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina – which had drawn a “red line” by prohibiting entity-level institutions from spending funds on lobbying, as such actions violate the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“There is a formal context in which regions or cities can establish connections and seek greater influence or investments; this is a recognized practice in international relations. However, if the explicit goal is the secession of the smaller entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina – a move they have, as we know, already signed off on – then this stands in conflict with the Constitution and the law, and must be halted immediately,” states Adnan Kapo, Director of the Institute for Geopolitics, Economics, and Security.
The representative office in Vienna was, in fact, involved in controversial contracts with Canadian and American lobbying firms. The Government of the Republika Srpska (RS) increased the budget for its main diplomatic office from 1.45 million to a staggering 31.72 million convertible marks. Next is the office in Moscow, with its budget rising from two million to 12 million marks. Funding for the representative office in Stuttgart was increased from 760,000 to 1.23 million marks, and there are also plans to open new representative offices, for which more than 14 million marks has been allocated.
Paying for what has already been achieved?
Kapo explains that while engaging lobbying firms can have a legal framework, the crucial factor is the purpose behind such activities.
“When you reach out to a lobbying firm in the United States – to use some jargon – they will quite simply map out how to do it legally, in compliance with both U.S. and our own laws. It’s implausible that Dodik knows how this is done, and Čović knows how this is done, yet no one on the Bosnian side knows how it’s done,” Kapo clarifies.
Momić suggests the possibility that the budget increase is linked to the prior political objectives of the RS authorities.
“If the goal was to get Dodik and a group of officials removed from the ‘blacklist,’ that goal has been achieved – and now the bill must be paid. Or perhaps it has already been paid through other channels, and this is merely a way to account for the funds on paper?” Momić asks.
The official websites of these representative offices highlight promotion, investments, energy, economic benefits, and ties to the diaspora. Behind this facade lies a political agenda in which the RS seeks to position itself on the global stage. Who will stop these paid allies – and how – as they lobby for the abolition of the OHR and the Constitutional Court, a move also advocated by Russia?, Federalna writes.
