Reactions continue to pour in following the lifting of U.S. sanctions against officials of Republika Srpska, with significant statements now arriving from Germany and Austria. Political leaders across Europe agree that sanctions do not solve problems. President Milorad Dodik sent a clear message — Republika Srpska has never accepted foreign interference as objectivity.
New people now lead America, Dodik said, people who understand the realities of the world and recognize that the country lost influence due to the decadent behavior of the previous administration. Through a different approach — including on the issue of sanctions — the U.S. is, according to Dodik, restoring its strategic value in this region.
“Huge damage was inflicted on Republika Srpska, but if there is any small satisfaction, it is the lifting of sanctions — something we knew would happen one day, and that day has come. I thank everyone and the new American administration. Thank you, President Trump — he says what he means, and through our example we can see that he does what he says,” Dodik told RTRS.
An obvious shift in American policy, said Dragan Čović, leader of the HDZ BiH, who emphasized that the lifting of sanctions clearly reflects a new direction.
“You could see it on the example of Mr. Dodik and the SNSD. Ten months ago there was one kind of relationship toward everything that was being done, and today there is a completely different one. If this helps us peacefully find solutions for Bosnia and Herzegovina, then we are on the right path to leave the wounds and scars of war behind us,” Čović said.
The decision should also be a clear signal to the European Union, say representatives of Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), who welcomed Washington’s move.
“The lifting of U.S. sanctions against Milorad Dodik represents a long-overdue correction of earlier wrong decisions. Pressure and interference cannot bring stability to the Western Balkans. Political disagreements must not be solved through sanctions — foreign policy should be based on dialogue and respect, not punitive measures,” the AfD stated.
A similar message came from Austria, which has banned Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Višković, and Speaker Nenad Stevandić from entering or transiting through the country. Austrian politician David Bilbija urged Vienna to follow the U.S. example.
“I call on the Austrian authorities, particularly Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, to act according to that same principle and lift these sanctions against a legitimately elected representative of his people,” Bilbija said.
The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) reiterated its long-standing stance that dialogue with legitimately elected representatives is essential, warning that excluding such leaders threatens peace and stability in the region.
Source: RTRS
