More of American sanctions for those who undermine the peace, stability and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina can be expected, US Department of Treasury Acting Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Anna Morris told reporters on Thursday in Sarajevo.

Morris said she arrived in Bosnia to discuss three things – the progress made in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism, activities that promote peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to discuss broader issues related to financing and sanctions against Russia.

She recalled that the US has imposed several sets of sanctions in Bosnia over the past few years in connection with these activities, adding that it is reasonable to expect more of it for those who undermine the peace, stability and territorial integrity of BiH.

Morris stressed that the US is very focused on promoting peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

She explained that the sanctions are intended to achieve a couple of goals – to publicly send a signal about specific concerns regarding the activities of the sanctioned individuals and she repeated once again that it can be expected the US will continue to use these sanctions as a tool.

This will make it difficult for these actors to engage in international financial transactions, to travel to the US and to raise the profile of the international community regarding the actors whose behavior is of serious concern, said Morris.

She welcomed the recent adoption of the new law against money laundering and financing of terrorism at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She assessed it is very important to continue raising the level of transparency in relation to the financial sector in order to be able to identify and stop the financing of terrorism as well as money laundering in the best possible way.

Morris could not specify the bank accounts that those on the US “black list” have or don't have, but the act of sanctioning is to draw international attention to activities that the United States is very concerned about because of the potential consequences, she noted.

If the sanctioned person has no assets or accounts in the US, it would be risky for international and local banks to allow these parties to have accounts with them, she explained, emphasising that it is important to convey this to the financial sector here, that sanctions related to Bosnia and Herzegovina do not only apply to sanctioned persons or entities, but carry a risk for anyone who supports these persons or entities.