The reason for the outburst in connection with a conference in Sarajevo is the ongoing power struggles in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has, among other things, defied the special representative Christian Schmidt's review of the peace agreement after the Bosnia war in the 1990s.
The crucial question is Dodik's decision not to allow federal police and judicial system to enter the Serbian Republic, which is part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dodik stands firm on the separatist outbursts, despite being sentenced to one year in prison for them. Dodik was also banned from holding political offices, which he dismisses as a political attack.
The NATO chief is trying to strengthen the federal government in Sarajevo through his visit, where he warned against the Bosnian Serb separatist thoughts.
This is not 1992 and we will not allow a security vacuum to arise, said Rutte.
At the same time, he urged the three federal leaders in Bosnia to "resolve the dispute". Bosnia and Herzegovina is led by a presidential council with three members: a Muslim and a Croat directly elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the Bosnian Serb representative is elected in direct elections in the Serbian Republic.
