There is zero basis for any discussion on the dissolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina or redrawing its borders, European Union's ambassador Johann Sattler said in a meeting with Bosnia Presidency member Sefik Dzaferovic on Thursday, stressing that the focus must be on health and vaccines as well as the economy and the country's European path.

He said that any discussion on secession is not in the interest of citizens of either the Republika Srpska entity or Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole.

At today's meeting with Presidency Member Džaferović, I emphasised there is zero basis for any discussion on the dissolution of #BiH?? or redrawing its borders. Focus must be on health/vaccines, the economy and the European path of #BiH. pic.twitter.com/POmsMJqPmU

— Johann Sattler (@josattler) April 22, 2021

“Right now the discussion should be about protecting lives, sound economic recovery and putting in place reforms that advance European integration and improve citizens’ lives. Anything else is a distraction,” said Sattler.

He added that “now more than ever” action must be taken on reforms.

“Inflammatory responses to secessionist threats are unhelpful to overcome divisions and build trust necessary for such reforms,” said the ambassador.

The statement comes in light of a tense atmosphere among political leaders in Bosnia which emerged after Slovenian media published an alleged ‘non-paper’ containing ideas for redrawing borders in the Western Balkans.

The document, published by the Slovenian news portal necenzurirano.si, proposes Kosovo joining Albania and Serbia annexing parts of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated Republika Srpska (RS) entity, while the mostly Croat-populated parts of southern Bosnia and Herzegovina would become part of Croatia.

While the Bosniak and Bosnian Croat members of the tripartite Presidency in BiH said implementing the ideas of the document would certainly lead to a war, their Serb colleague and current Chairman of the institution said a “peaceful separation” of Bosnia’s two semi-autonomous entities is the only option in the long run.