German Minister for European Affairs and Climate Anna Lirmann said that the sanctions imposed by Germany and Austria on the president of Republika Srpska (RS) and the leadership of that Bosnian and Herzegovina (BiH) entity could be extended to other individuals who support Dodik's secessionist policies.
"It will be checked whether the sanctions will be extended to additional persons who support this secessionist course of action, and we are also cooperating within the EU, where we have condemned these steps," Lirman said in an interview with Bijeljina-based BN television, broadcast tonight.
She assessed that on this basis "Dodik is increasingly isolated."
Lirman emphasized that she is on the side of the RS population, adding that she repeatedly hears that the citizens of this BiH entity want to join the EU, which, she said, is not the case with the RS leadership.
"Dodik and they are introducing new measures and acting against the constitutional order of BiH. There is also a warrant for his arrest. That is precisely why we have decided to take steps to hold them accountable," the German minister stated.
Commenting on the information that Germany had suspended funding for projects in the RS, Lirman emphasized that "Dodik is the person who stopped those projects."
"With his secessionist rhetoric and actions, he has shown that he is departing from the common goal - EU accession. We were forced to send a clear message and stop the projects. These funds have been frozen, and these are extremely important projects," she said.
Lirman stressed that the EU must clearly state that Dodik and those who support him have "crossed several red lines", which is why he, along with the presidents of the RS parliament and government, Nenad Stevandić and Radovan Višković, have been banned from entering Germany and Austria.
"That's the first step," the German minister stated.
Lirman cut short her visit to Banja Luka yesterday after the RS Government made a decision to declare her "persona non grata" on the territory of RS.
She then announced that she and her delegation were "threatened with violence by Milorad Dodik's representatives."
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