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Republika Srpska allocates additional 22 million euros for lobbying in the US

Republika Srpska allocates additional 22 million euros for lobbying in the US


More than 22 million euros will be used to hire experts and lobbying companies in the United States, with the aim of "better positioning" Republika Srpska, the Serbian entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the new American administration.

This was stated in the response of the Ministry for European Integration and International Cooperation of Republika Srpska in a response to Radio Free Europe, when asked how much money was allocated for lobbying in the United States, after the National Assembly of Republika Srpska approved budget amendments on July 3, including an increase in funds for this ministry.

In addition to the 11.6 million marks that had already been allocated earlier, the ministry has received 54.9 million marks, which represents an increase of almost 43 million marks (or about 22 million euros).

The authorities of Republika Srpska have been lobbying abroad for some time, but despite these efforts, most of the entity's leadership, led by President Milorad Dodik and members of his family, have ended up on the US Treasury Department's "blacklist", as well as on the sanctions list of several European countries.

The Ministry for European Integration and International Cooperation of Republika Srpska has emphasized that the funding for the ministry has been increased because it aims to "change the image of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, Željka Cvijanović, member of the tripartite Presidency of Bosnia, the entity's prime minister, and the speakers of parliament, Radovan Višković and Nenad Stevandić, have previously been on the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list.

Also on the list are Dodik's family members, such as his son and daughter, Igor and Gorica.

They are sanctioned for anti-Dayton activities and involvement in corruption.

Dodik and Cvijanović have been on the United Kingdom's sanctions list since 2022, for their attempts to undermine the legitimacy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The EU has attempted in the past to impose sanctions against Dodik, but failed due to Hungarian objections.

A few months ago, Germany and Austria banned Dodik, Vishkovic, and Stevandic from entering these countries and ordered the freezing of their assets, if they have them in these territories.

On the same day the sanctions were imposed, the Government of Republika Srpska declared the German Minister for Europe and Climate, Anna Luhrmann, as persona non grata.

The minister, who was visiting Banja Luka at the time, said that Dodik's representatives "threatened" her and her delegation with violence.

Radio Free Europe reported earlier this year that, rarely in Kosovo's post-war history, state institutions - the only ones in the Balkans - currently have no active lobbying contracts in the United States.

Until last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora (MFAD) of Kosovo had two such agreements, but they have now expired.

Local and international political experts warn that this risks leaving Kosovo in the shadows and "without a seat at the table."/REL

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