Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov likely to visit Bosnia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will today begin a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Originally scheduled to travel to Sarajevo on October 28, Lavrov postponed his initial trip due to COVID-19 restrictions. He is expected to meet with Bosnian political leaders and officials from the country’s foreign ministry. Discussions will concern bilateral trade and political relationships as well as humanitarian issues.
Expect Lavrov to reaffirm Russia’s commitment to the Dayton Agreement, which ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian War. This visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the agreement that effectively divided the country into two halves, the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska.
Though the country has not seen fighting since 1995, critics argue that the agreement has done nothing to end ethnic tensions and nationalism—and any destabilisation in the region could spark another conflict. Critics also cite widespread corruption and the need for comprehensive reforms. Many Bosnians see the election of Joe Biden as US president as a catalyst for potential change, so expect Lavrov to reinforce ties between Sarajevo and Moscow in order to maintain Russian influence in the Balkans.
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