Washington has denounced the “dangerous” remarks of the Russian ambassador to Bosnia, saying that Moscow would react to a possible accession of Bosnia to NATO, even mentioning the situation in Ukraine.
In the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of a destabilization of Bosnia is making noise, while its integrity has been seriously threatened in recent months by the political leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Milorad Dodik, considered close from Moscow.
This country, divided since the war of the 1990s along ethnic lines, is made up of two entities, one Serbian (Republika Srpska) and one Croat-Muslim.
Questioned this week by Bosnian public television (FTV) about Moscow’s attitude in the event of Bosnia joining NATO, the Russian ambassador to Sarajevo Igor Kalabuhov made ambiguous remarks but warned that Russia would not remain without reacting.
“We are for what Bosnia and Herzegovina decides. If one day she decides to be a member of anything, it’s an internal affair. But another reason and another thing (is) our reaction”, said Mr. Kalabukov, who spoke in Serbo-Croatian.
“We have shown with the example of Ukraine what we expect. We will react in the event of a threat,” he said.
For the United States Embassy in Sarajevo, these are “threats” that are “dangerous, irresponsible and unacceptable”.
“No third party has a say in the security agreements between NATO and sovereign countries. We will continue to strongly support Bosnia as it takes the necessary steps to secure its place in the community of Euro-Atlantic nations,” the US embassy tweeted Thursday.
The Muslim and Croat members of the Bosnian tripartite presidency also denounced the Russian diplomat’s remarks.
“The statement of the Russian ambassador (…that) Russia will react in the event of Bosnia joining NATO, and the mention of Ukraine in this context, represents an unacceptable threat and a attack on the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Muslim member of the presidency Sefik Dzaferovic said in a statement.
For the Croatian member of the presidency, Zeljko Komsic, these are “threats not only with regard to Bosnia, but also threats against peace and stability in the Western Balkans”.
Their Serbian colleague in the rotating presidency, Milorad Dodik, advocates “military neutrality” and opposes any entry of the country into NATO. In this country where the three communities share the levers of power, any important decision must be taken by consensus.