Slovenia does not intend to impose sanctions against the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, the Bosnian media outlet Istraga.ba reveals, citing several diplomatic sources. The Foreign Ministry, headed by Tanja Fajon, which has denied the media outlet’s allegations, is said to be actively resisting the imposition of sanctions, with the stronger influence attributed to Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković, according to the sources.
Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković allegedly lobbied directly against the sanctions in order to avoid straining relations with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. According to the media outlet, although some members of the Slovenian government are in favour of the sanctions, the lack of consensus within the coalition has prevented their implementation at this time.
Unlike Slovenia, Germany and Austria have already imposed sanctions against Milorad Dodik, Nenad Stevandić and Radovan Višković, banning them from entering their territory. The Netherlands is also planning to introduce similar measures, suggesting the possibility of a “flood of sanctions”, as pointed out by Bosnia and Herzegovina Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković.
Meanwhile, the Slovenian government is following the position of the Mayor of Ljubljana, Janković, who has spoken out against sanctions in the past. Namely, at the end of January this year, Janković publicly supported Vučić and expressed his commitment to maintaining peace and stability in Serbia. In a letter to Vučić, he wrote that it was necessary to “preserve peace and stability in Serbia” and acknowledged that the situation in Europe was challenging.
Janković’s friendship with Dodik, which dates back to the last electoral period, further strengthens his influence on Slovenian politics. Both Janković and Fajon have proven to be strong opponents of sanctions, which further complicates Slovenia’s situation, while many European countries are opting for tougher measures.
The Foreign Ministry denies the allegations
Despite the complications, we also addressed questions on this issue to the office of Foreign Minister Fajon, and received a reply from her office on behalf of Kristina Plavšak Krajnc: “The information given in the article is not true. As Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon has repeatedly stressed, most recently yesterday at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, that Slovenia is closely monitoring the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and will react as necessary to developments, and we have not ruled out any possibility. The secessionist activities and rhetoric of the political leadership in Republika Srpska and its President Dodik are worrying. Slovenia calls for the European Union and its Member States, as well as the international community, to act as coherently as possible. It is in the interest of Slovenia and the European Union that Bosnia and Herzegovina progresses on its European path as a united, territorially integrated and democratic state. Slovenia will continue to strive for a coordinated response at the EU level.”
A. H.
