US Senator Charles Grassley wrote to US State Secretary Antony Blinken, calling for the use of all tools at disposal “including diplomacy and sanctions” to prevent a deterioration of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“As you know Milorad Dodik, the leader of Republika Srpska entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina has been threatening to secede. I urge the administration to see all tools an its disposal, including diplomacy and sanctions, to prevent a deterioration of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” reads the letter that the senator addressed to Blinken.

Grassley met Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic on Thursday, who informed him about the ongoing political developments in BiH.

Turkovic assessed the meeting as “very important,” reminding that the senator has neen for decades active in the US legislative authority and supported the lifting of the arms embargo for Bosnia and Herzegovina together with late senator Bob Dole during the aggression on Bosnia.

In his letter to Secretary Blinken, Grassley said Turkovic briefed him about the “seriousness of the escalating situation that threatens to reopen old wounds and hostilities.”

“We cannot let this happen again. I am committed to doing whatever I can to preserve the peace and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and I look forward to working with you toward this end,” said the letter.