The crisis between the president of the Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, and the country’s High Representative Christian Schmidt is “coming to its peak“, according to Der Spiegel, explaining that “one is threatening secession, and the other wants to save the multinational state”. However, it is pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin has an interest in all of this.
In an analysis for Der Spiegel, journalist Walter Mayr explains the recent moves of Dodik and Schmidt, including the decision challenging the authority of the state Constitutional Court on the territory of RS, the decision not to publish Schmidt’s decisions in the entity, as well as Schmidt’s reaction through the use of Bonn powers with which he declared these laws void.
“It seems that Dodik is not impressed by this for now,” writes Mayr, and adds that he is not impressed even despite the fact that Schmidt’s decision if correctly implemented, would mean that the president of the RS and his officials could count on arrest in the future if they cross to another entity.
The indecision of Europeans for years
Mayr also points out that Dodik recently threatened to hold a referendum on the secession of RS by the end of the year, and asks what this could mean for the already very explosive atmosphere in the Balkans.
He believes that Dodik can be encouraged because of “the indecision of Europeans for years on how to deal with those who are “setting fire” to a country that is a candidate for European Union (EU) membership”.
A worrying picture
Mayr explains that EU sanctions against Dodik as a person or against RS as a whole would not succeed because of Hungary, which was clearly stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of that country, Peter Szijjarto, in March.
Explaining the rise in tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Mayr also mentions the recent statement of BiH Defense Minister Zukan Helez, when he hinted that there is a “Plan B” in case Dodik is not stopped by legal means. He also states that Dodik implied that he has military assistance from Russia.
Photo session with Vladimir Putin
Moreover, Mayr states that Dodik visited Moscow at the end of May and that he “got the opportunity to take a photo with Putin, but nothing more”.
He also quotes the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, who assessed that a “big and difficult crisis” is brewing in the RS.
In the end, Mayr emphasized that the relationship between Vucic and Dodik is always subject to change, but that “it is clear that almost nothing happens on both sides of the Drina without Vucic’s knowledge and consent.”
