During an official visit in early April to the Serb autonomous entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, Germany’s Minister of State for Europe at the Foreign Ministry, Anna Lührmann, faced serious threats from representatives of the nationalist president, Milorad Dodik.
At first, she was informally banned from re-entering the territory of Republika Srpska. Then she was warned that her safety could not be guaranteed, and finally, the authorities threatened to use force if she did not leave immediately.
“We were told we had to leave immediately or else force would be used,” said Lührmann in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
The visit was part of a diplomatic tour to support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European Union membership perspective.
Lührmann described the incident as an attack on European values:
“Treating a representative of a partner country like Germany in this way is a sign of weakness,” she said.
She added that she had received many messages of solidarity, including from citizens in Banja Luka, who had distanced themselves from Dodik’s actions.
“This is not the real Bosnia,” some of them had written to her.
According to Lührmann, Dodik is blocking reforms and pushing the country toward isolation. There is currently an arrest warrant against him from Bosnian authorities due to his refusal to appear in hearings over his efforts to divide the territory and amend the constitution.
“We expect local authorities to act. EUFOR is not responsible for that under its mandate,” the minister said.
Lührmann categorically ruled out the possibility that Republika Srpska could unify with Serbia:
“That would go against the Dayton Agreement, the Constitution, and the will of the majority of citizens.
Even within his own parliament, there is no majority support for such plans.”
The minister emphasized that Germany remains a strong supporter of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
“We helped the country achieve EU candidate status. We’ve prepared a major financial package as part of the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.”
However, she stressed that Dodik’s political blockades are preventing the country from moving forward.
When asked if she would return to Republika Srpska despite being declared persona non grata by Dodik, Lührmann replied:
“Yes, because that decision is not Dodik’s to make.
He does not have the authority to decide who enters Bosnia and Herzegovina.
I want to return, meet with people, listen to them, and show that Germany stands with them.”
