"Republika Srpska opposes visas for Russians"

Republika Srpska will not allow the imposition of sanctions against Russia and visa restrictions for its citizens, Zeljka Cvijanovic, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said in an interview with Izvestia. According to her, the process of integration of BiH into the EU has been at a standstill for several months, and the main reason for this is the interference in the country's affairs by Christian Schmidt, who was appointed high Representative for BiH without the approval of the UN Security Council. Zeljka Cvijanovic talks about the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo's European prospects, the prosecution of Milorad Dodik and the likelihood of launching direct flights to Moscow in an exclusive interview with Izvestia.

"We are fundamentally opposed to any form of sanctions"

— Russia and Ukraine held direct talks in Istanbul in May for the first time in three years. What is your opinion on the prospects for resolving the conflict this year?

— It is obvious that the arrival of the new US administration under the leadership of President Trump has led to the resumption of diplomatic dialogue aimed at resolving the conflict. This is a very encouraging and positive development. Unfortunately, all the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina have experienced the horrors and suffering that war brings. For this reason, I consistently advocate for peace and the peaceful resolution of all disputes. And I sincerely hope that peace in Ukraine will be achieved as soon as possible and that the language of dialogue will prevail over the language of weapons.

— Does Bosnia and Herzegovina plan to continue to refrain from imposing sanctions against Russia? Is it possible to strengthen cooperation between BiH and Russia and in what areas?

— There is no doubt that politicians in Sarajevo would willingly impose the toughest sanctions against Russia if it were not for the opposition of Republika Srpska (an entity within BiH - Izvestia) and its elected officials. We are fundamentally opposed to any form of sanctions, as we have experienced them firsthand and know that they are never part of a solution, but rather an additional obstacle to overcoming the conflict.

As for cooperation, and I am speaking here as the representative of Republika Srpska in the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we remain fully committed to deepening our ties with the Russian Federation. Russia has proven itself to be a very reliable partner, firmly committed to upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement and demonstrating deep understanding towards all the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is no reason to refuse to further strengthen our excellent and friendly relations. We see great potential for further cooperation not only in the political sphere, but also in the fields of economic development, culture and other areas of mutual interest.

— Are we discussing the opening of direct flights from Sarajevo to Moscow? Will the visa-free regime for Russian citizens continue in the future?

— Republika Srpska and its representatives in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina are opposed to the introduction of visa requirements for Russian citizens, and we have clearly communicated this position to all interested parties both domestically and abroad. As for direct flights, I'm not sure if the authorities in Sarajevo are ready to launch direct flights to Moscow. However, Banja Luka and Republika Srpska would certainly be interested in such cooperation in the future.

"BiH is going through a serious crisis"

— Bosnia and Herzegovina has received the status of a candidate for EU membership in 2022. At what stage are the negotiations?

— The process of Bosnia and Herzegovina's integration into the EU has been at a standstill for several months, mainly due to the illegal interference of Christian Schmidt, an unelected foreign citizen who falsely pretends to be the High Representative for BiH (a position created to implement the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement. — Izvestia).

For decades, Brussels has assured us that the rule of law and democracy are fundamental European values. Nevertheless, these principles were trampled on, sometimes with the tacit approval, and sometimes with the explicit support of Schmidt. Let me remind you that he was not appointed in accordance with Annex No. 10 to the Dayton Peace Agreement, as he could not receive the necessary confirmation from the UN Security Council.

Democracy means that decisions are made by democratically elected representatives within national institutions, rather than by individuals imposing decisions from the outside. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt issues rulings stipulating that anyone who does not follow his instructions faces imprisonment. The EU remains silent while national judicial authorities, based on Schmidt's decrees, prosecute and sentence democratically elected officials, most notably Mr. Milorad Dodik, who enjoys the overwhelming support of the Serbian people. Is this the rule of law? Is this democracy?

Obviously, this is neither one nor the other. Therefore, our commitment to the EU remains firm, but decisions must be made exclusively by local leaders. Foreign actors who behave like colonial administrators have no legitimate place in this process. We expect that the European Union will also take a clear position on this issue.

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— Christian Schmidt previously stated in the UN Security Council that Sarajevo is experiencing the most serious crisis since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. How do you assess the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

— It is true that Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently experiencing the most serious crisis since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. This is perhaps the only accurate statement during Mr. Schmidt's entire speech at the UN Security Council.

However, he did not mention that he himself bears the greatest responsibility for this crisis. First of all, Mr. Schmidt has not received the official confirmation from the UN Security Council necessary for his legitimate appointment to the post of High Representative. This fundamental violation lies at the heart of the current crisis, which he has since exacerbated with a series of authoritarian and unilateral decrees.

All the steps taken by Republika Srpska represent an institutional and democratic response to Mr. Schmidt's blatantly undermining the Dayton Accords and to the politically motivated pressure emanating from Sarajevo. These steps protect the institutions of Republika Srpska and its powers guaranteed to it by the Constitution.

We are not opposed to the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina, consistent with the Dayton Accords. What we strongly reject is the process of its transformation into a unitary state, carried out by politicians in Sarajevo with the support of certain foreign players. We will resolutely oppose this process using all available political and legal means.