Gabriel Escobar, US Deputy Assistant Secretary overseeing policy towards the countries of the Western Balkans, said there is no room for fear over a possibility of Republika Srpska, Bosnia's Serb-majority entity, declaring independence in case Donald Trump wins US presidential election, as announced by entity president Milorad Dodik. Pročitaj više

“The international community is dedicated to the independence, territorial integrity and multi-ethnic character of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have peacekeeping forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have a high representative with enormous powers. And NATO has repeatedly said that it would not allow a security vacuum in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Escobar speaking to Radio Free Europe.

He called Dodik's statements “harmful” and expressed doubts the entity he leads would be capable of confronting NATO.

“Dodik's statements are harmful, but I don't think that the impoverished entity of 750,000 people, which is constantly increasing its debt, has the capacity to stand up to NATO or to declare independence that would be sustainable,” said Escobar, concluding that Bosnia has NATO's security guarantee.

Dodik swiftly reacted to the remarks and stressed that Republika Srpska entity “has power” and is able to function “under the condition of serious insidious pressures exerted by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar and his structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina led by US Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Michael Murphy, who every day comes up with what bad he would do to Republika Srpska and Serb people.”

He said that Escobar's words are “not accidental” and come in the days when Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to get the status of a negotiator with the European Union.

“It is very indicative that America is trying to complicate the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina with its insidious activities in recent days. They don't do anything – they sanction us, threaten the banks not to cooperate with the Government, with Republika Srpska authorities, they accuse Dodik, drag me through reports, they are bothered by our ties with President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, that we are getting negotiating status with the EU. When they talk about something else, they lie,” Dodik said.

He also accused Escobar of “lying” regarding NATO.

“NATO is not represented by Escobar but Jens Stoltenberg,” Dodik noted, and asked why the Americans are advocating that Kosovo becomes a state while they mind Republika Srpska becoming one.

“Republika Srpska has better salaries, safer economy, better export, less debt, it has everything better than their monster they are trying to turn into a state,” he said.

According to him, everyone in Republika Srpska wish for Trump to win the elections.

“OF course Escobar is afraid of that, because in that case he would be a nobody there. He is lying for practical reasons,” Dodik concluded.