Republika Srpska (RS) “has never opposed” the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in line with the Dayton Agreement, and secession “has never been our policy,” said Milorad Dodik, president of the Serb entity, one of the two entities that make up Bosnia, on Wednesday.
Dodik, who is sanctioned by the United States, made these remarks following a visit by William Burns, Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to Sarajevo on August 20.
Burns visited Sarajevo on Tuesday, where he discussed, among other topics, Dodik’s secessionist rhetoric and actions, according to a U.S. government official who spoke to Radio Free Europe on the condition of anonymity.
Burns met with Almir Xhuvo, Director of the Intelligence and Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and with members of Bosnia’s Presidency, including Denis Bećirović, Željko Komšić, and Željka Cvijanović, the Serb member who is also sanctioned by the U.S.
A day after Burns’ visit, Dodik wrote on social media platform X that “the fight against terrorism is a duty of the entire free world, and in this context, the visit of CIA Director Mr. William Burns to Bosnia and Herzegovina is significant.”
“Republika Srpska is committed to this fight and welcomes any cooperation in this area,” Dodik added.
Dodik asserted that the Serb entity has no intention of seceding from Bosnia, but that it “has the right to a political struggle for its status, in accordance with the letter of the Dayton Agreement.”
The 1995 Dayton Agreement, which ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, divided the country into two autonomous entities – the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska – as well as the Brčko District, a self-governing administrative unit.
All of these are under the umbrella of the federal government and a rotating presidency.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is a union of two equal entities and three constituent peoples, so Mr. Burns’ stance that the responsibility for the country’s functioning lies with all ethnic communities is encouraging,” said Dodik.
In March of this year, the U.S. intelligence community, in its annual report on global threats, mentioned Milorad Dodik in the section concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“[Dodik] is taking provocative steps to neutralize international oversight in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to secure de facto secession for Republika Srpska,” the document stated.
After his visit to Sarajevo, Burns is expected to visit Belgrade.
Kadri Kastrati, the former Commander of the Kosovo Security Force, told Radio Free Europe that the visit of the CIA chief to the region indicates that the United States has ample information on Russia’s efforts—through its ally Serbia—to put the Western Balkans at risk of a potential conflict.
A former diplomat and former ambassador to Russia, Burns is a central figure in the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, as he is also a member of the White House presidential cabinet.
President Biden appointed him to the position of CIA Director in January 2021.
Burns was sworn in as CIA Director in March 2021, becoming the first career diplomat to serve in this role. President Biden promoted him to the cabinet in June 2023.
