The reason for CIA Director William Burns' visit to Sarajevo is to discuss, among other things, the worrying secessionist rhetoric and actions of Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik and the Government of the RS, an official of the United States Government told Radio Free Europe.
"Meetings were held with colleagues from the intelligence community, members of the Presidency and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. They discussed issues of common interest, which includes the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina," the US government said about the visit of the CIA director.
The director of the CIA arrived in Sarajevo on Tuesday, August 20, where he met with the director of the Intelligence and Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Almira Džuva.
Džuvo told RSE that "it is about a visit that was agreed earlier, as well as that Burns expressed his support for the cooperation of the agencies, but also for the state of BiH".
Radio Free Europe has learned from several sources that the meeting at the BiH Presidency was attended by Željka Cvijanović, who is on the American list of sanctioned persons, due to threats to the Dayton Peace Agreement, the integrity and sovereignty of BiH, as well as her party leader Milorad Dodik, president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats ( SNSD).
Head of Bosnia and Herzegovina of diplomacy, Elmedin Konaković told RSE that the visit of "one of the key people of the US administration shows the commitment of the US, as well as that BiH is at the very top of US foreign policy priorities, which is very important for BiH".
"At the meeting, we once again received confirmation of full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH and condemnation of secessionist messages and moves. I cannot comment on some parts because they are closed to the public, but a universal message was sent. The messages of the American administration are very clear, and the arrival itself, before above all, it symbolizes and proves that our foreign policy partner is still firmly with Bosnia and Herzegovina," Konaković said.
A former diplomat and former ambassador to Russia, Burns is a central figure in the administration of US President Joe Biden, as he is also a member of the White House Presidential Cabinet.
He was appointed to the position of director of the US Central Intelligence Agency by the president in January 2021.
Burns was sworn in as CIA director in March 2021, becoming the first career diplomat to serve as director. The president promoted him to the cabinet in June 2023.
Director Burns has served six presidents and administrations (of both parties) during nearly four decades of public service in diplomacy and intelligence. He is only the second diplomat in history to become Deputy Secretary of State, and he was also the US Ambassador to Jordan.
After retiring from the diplomatic service at the end of 2014, Director Burns served as president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
He holds a BA in History from LaSalle University, and an MA and PhD in International Relations from Oxford University.
Former CIA Director Jom Brenan last visited Sarajevo in 2016.
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