Bosnian presidency members snub Russia's 'disrespectful' Lavrov
Reuters
Published Dec 15, 2020 05:25AM ET
Updated Dec 15, 2020 07:00AM ET
By Daria Sito-Sucic
SARAJEVO (Reuters) - The Croat and Muslim Bosniak members of Bosnia's inter-ethnic three-man presidency declined on Tuesday to meet Russia's visiting Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, saying he had shown disrespect towards their state.
Lavrov, whose nation is a champion of Serbian interests in Bosnia and the wider Balkans, met the Serb member of the presidency Milorad Dodik on Monday and again on Tuesday.
Croat presidency member Zeljko Komsic said the first meeting, in the Serb Republic's government office just outside the capital Sarajevo, was insulting as no national flag was on display despite the Russian being on an official visit.
"Mr. Lavrov, as one of the worlds' three top diplomats ... is sending us a message ... which we interpret as disrespectful and a denial of the state he is visiting," Komsic told reporters.
He and Bosniak Muslim presidency member Sefik Dzaferovic did not attend a planned meeting with Lavrov at the presidency building in Sarajevo, where the Russian met Dodik again.
Komsic said that Lavrov, who on Monday backed the Serb Republic parliament's resolution on military neutrality, knew a regional legislature cannot decide such strategic policy.
"We are aware that we are small and weak, but we are not ready to be a hostage in any kind of games by Russia when it comes to their relations with the European Union and NATO members," Komsic said.
Lavrov made no comments on the failed meeting at a press conference later with Bosnia's Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic. The two signed agreements on future cooperation.
But Lavrov did stress: "Russia confirms its principled and strong support for Bosnia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and equality of all of its constituent peoples".
The Russian echoed a long-time request by Bosnian Serbs to shut an international peace overseer's office, set up as part of the U.S.-brokered Dayton pact to end Bosnia's war 25 years ago.
Under the deal, Bosnia was split into two autonomous regions, the Serb-dominated Serb Republic and the Federation shared by Bosniaks and Croats, which are linked via a weak central government.
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Written By: Reuters
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