Economist Drasko Acimovic does not think that the United States (U.S.) would sanction the Republika Srpska (RS), but that it would individually sanction the ruling officials from this entity responsible for the blockade of state government.
Stade Department’s new representative for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, has twice publicly warned of the possibility of sanctions. In an interview with the Voice of America, he stated that the U.S. plans to “aggressively” sanction those responsible for corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
The other day he mentioned the sanctions in a conversation with the member of the Presidency of BiH and the president of the SNSD, Milorad Dodik. He told him that threats of separatism lead to “isolation” and “economic despair”.
There are several countries in the world on the basis of which this despair is visible after the U.S. sanctions. The closest example to us was Serbia under the rule of Slobodan Milosevic. Such countries include Belarus, Iran, and North Korea.
“There will be no sanction because Dodik did everything that was asked of him.”
In an interview Acimovic pointed out that the RS will not be sanctioned, because, according to his assessment, Dodik gave up the blockade of state institutions. To recall, on Wednesday, September 29th, the Council of Ministers adopted a decision on temporary financing, despite the announcements of officials from RS that this will not happen.
“There will be no sanctions because he canceled the blockade. He gave up on the story and basically did everything that was asked of him,” Acimovic stated.
He called disgusting everything that was a consequence of Dodik’s actions. Commenting on his withdrawal from the original views, he believes that they only existed for the needs of what is happening in BiH.
“He did everything that was asked of him. Everything that was related to money, there were his people. You heard yesterday that Mr. Zoran Tegeltija (Chairman of the Council of Ministers) said: ‘Between our two countries, BiH and Croatia.’ This means not only that the blockade has been canceled, but that Tegeltija has also admitted that he was doing what he had to do – that he is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH. He has publicly said that he represents BiH, ” he emphasized.
Is sanctioning individuals more likely to happen?
Acimovic reiterated that RS will not be sanctioned, but expects that a list of 36 people from BiH that the Americans intend to sanction will be published soon, which was previously speculated about.
Further, he stressed that the establishment of an international court for crime and corruption is also planned. He called it the basis for which he stated that it would function as a court in The Hague. He emphasized that this court will prosecute individuals responsible for the mentioned acts.
He thinks that if Dodik remained persistent in his views, the U.S. would again sanction individuals, but not the entire entity, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
