Elmedin Konakovic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, met in Brussels with the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. After the meeting, he stated that due to Hungary's veto at the EU level, sanctions against the president of BiH's Republika Srpska (RS) entity, Milorad Dodik, cannot be expected, but, as he noted, certain countries will impose sanctions on him.

Apart from sanctions on Dodik, unfortunately, the citizens of Republika Srpska will also pay the price, Konakovic said.

“I am encouraged by the EU's thinking, and we seem to see one of the options for further messages to our public as more active action in the field of sanctions. It is clear to everyone that due to Hungary's veto, this cannot be adopted unanimously at the EU level. I have received announcements from colleagues from powerful European countries, the driving forces of the EU economy, that a group of countries will decide bilaterally on this type of sanctions. Dodik can certainly expect additional problems on his shoulders. Unfortunately, the citizens of Republika Srpska can also expect this, as they will pay the price for his adventurism, probably through other means such as the blocking of investments and processes in Republika Srpska,” Konakovic stated for N1.

He also mentioned that there was some misinformation in Brussels.

“There were some claims that Dodik has the support of some European countries besides Hungary and Orbán, whom we can all clearly see supporting him. All EU member states are aware that he currently poses a security risk due to his attack on the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the judiciary is doing its job. What is important is that these people are separating the political process from the judicial one,” he said.

Given that an international arrest warrant has been issued for Dodik, Radovan Viskovic, and Nenad Stevandic, and that detention has been ordered due to suspicions of an attack on Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitutional order, many are calling for EUFOR to intervene. However, Konakovic said that they do not have a mandate for this.

“We do not expect EUFOR to arrest Dodik, that is an important message. They do not have a mandate for that, and they should not be doing it,” Konakovic explained.

Regarding the announcements that Republika Srpska will form its own border police, Konakovic called such claims “stupid and inappropriate,” describing them as madness.