Vogel: The Bonn Powers are the only remaining Tool of the West in the Fight against Russian Allies in BiH

With the adoption of the Law on Immovable Property in the Republika Srpska (RS), the National Assembly of RS (NARS) went a step further in realizing Milorad Dodik’s secessionist intentions. Cvijanovic signed the decree yesterday when it came into force, and many domestic and international politicians reacted to this. Brussels analyst Toby Vogel also gave his opinion.

After the RS president signed the decree, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Christian Schmidt responded, saying the decision did not affect the ban on disposing of state property, Klix.ba writes.

The chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Zeljko Komsic, reacted to that by telling Schmidt to pack his bags if he did not put the unconstitutional law out of force.

Brussels-based analyst Toby Vogel agrees with Komsic’s view that Bonn powers are the only tool that is left for BiH.

”Now that the European Union (EU) has given away its own ability to impose sanctions against Dodik and his cronies, the only means at the West’s disposal to deal with the Kremlin’s clients in BiH are the heavy-handed Bonn Powers,” Vogel wrote on Twitter.

Furthermore, Christian Schmidt only called on the entity authorities to withdraw the adopted law, which turned out to be a useless reaction a million times, when it comes to Dodik. RS institutions pass unconstitutional laws despite decisions by the Constitutional Court and the Office of the High Representative (OHR), so it is certain that a single call from Schmidt will not persuade them to abandon secessionist plans.

E.Dz.