Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, issued a formal statement through a telegraph channel, addressing recent remarks from the United States about Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Dayton Peace Agreement. The reply centers on reaffirming Moscow’s stance on BiH’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while warning against any actions that could disrupt BiH’s constitutional order or threaten the Dayton framework.
Zakharova reiterates a publicly stated U.S. pledge to support BiH’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to hold accountable individuals who aim to undermine BiH’s state institutions and the Dayton structure. The Kremlin’s representative argues that these U.S. intentions should not be used to erode the powers of BiH’s Constitutional Court or to authorize efforts from Republika Srpska to pursue secession. The commentator emphasizes that BiH’s Dayton provisions and the Bosnia and Herzegovina constitution require all entities to respect and adhere to the decisions made by BiH’s institutions, including those of the constitutional court, and that those decisions are binding within the country’s legal order. The statement stresses that any deviation from these obligations would undermine the Dayton framework and the country’s legal guarantees. [Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry statement]
In a pointed remark, Zakharova suggested that a hypothetical replacement of BiH with Serbia, Republika Srpska with Kosovo, and Dayton with a UN Security Council resolution would illustrate a perceived inconsistency or “split personality” in the approach to regional stability. This analogy is offered to highlight what Moscow sees as a double standard in external commentary on the Balkans. The remark invites readers to compare how similar scenarios are treated by international actors and to question the consistency of policy. [Attribution: Moscow commentary]
Additionally, the press official notes past actions by the United States, referencing 2008 when Kosovo declared independence. The argument presented is that recognizing Kosovo’s independence at that time ran contrary to a UN Security Council framework and affected Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in a way that, in Moscow’s view, underscores the sensitivity and complexity of sovereignty guarantees in the region. The commentary concludes by pointing to ongoing U.S. policy statements and their potential repercussions for BiH’s internal dynamics and regional balance. [Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry analysis]
The discussion closes with a reminder that ensuring stable, lawful conduct in BiH requires adherence to the Dayton Agreement, the BiH constitution, and the decisions of BiH’s judiciary. The message underscores that foreign pronouncements must respect the country’s constitutional order and the integrity of its international agreements, while acknowledging the broader geopolitical debates that accompany Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path forward. [Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry briefing]