Removing sanctions on SDS: Possible sanctions on SNSD?

By: Sead OMERAGIC

The US Ministry of Finance recently revealed an updated OFAC list. SDS remains on the list even though their removal from the list has been anticipated for quite some time.  

There are speculations that SDS could be removed from the OFAC list in one of the forthcoming updating of the Balkans list. The sanctions could be lifted by the October elections next year should this party continue on the path of modernization. Its recent declaration was positively evaluated as – encouraging. The declaration reads that SDS is committed to preserving BiH, EU integration and the fight against corruption and political malversations.

The future of SDS depends to a great extent on who its future leader is going to be. Some tend to think that electing Vukota Govedarica may reduce chance for SDS to be accepted as a pro-EU party. Recent appointment of Govedarica to the lead position of the party has not resolved anything. His counterpart was Ognjen Tadic, the Parliamentary Assembly delegate. Tadic enjoys a good reputation and is perceived as voice of reason in SDS.

Thanks to the party members such as Tadic, Mirko Sarovic, Dragan Mektic, Aleksandra Pandurevic, and even its former leader Mladen Bosic, SDS started getting its democratic and reform shape. One of the key people who has worked hard to bring the RS politics back to normal is Mirko Sarovic. No wonder he is the favorite for the position of SDS leader.

It is curious that, immediately after Govedarica was elected, the party membership began to fall apart. After the first indications about removing SDS from the list, almost immediately after, as a sign of protest, old members who were deeply involved in the crimes, initiated founding of an 'original SDS'.

All this may prepare the ground for purification of the party and consequently, its new, more Bosnian future.

What will happen with SNSD? Their leader Milorad Dodik has ended up on the OFAC list for spreading hatred, calling to war and persistent denying BiH. As he continues with his backwards rhetoric, his party could also come under the international sanctions.

Milorad Dodik stole from Bosnia and Herzegovina nearly a decade and a half of its future, brutally stopping its progress, continually creating tensions. The international community trusted him, which is how he came to power many years ago. However, he tricked many world politicians, all those folks benevolent towards BiH... He then turned to political radicalism 'spiced up' by random xenophobic episodes. Removing SDS from the OFAC list may end up with a paradox as it could be replaced with SNSD – which should be credited to its persistent leader.

It is also curious that the only person giving support to Dodik – when whole world tries to be out of his way – is the HDZ BiH leader, Dragan Covic. His view of Bosnia and Herzegovina has always been identical to Dodik's.

Same ideology, perhaps slightly different vocabulary... Covic's language is sugarcoated with tasty political frosting. That said, his visits to Prlic et al. could hardly escape notice, as well as his pressure on the Tribunal. Meanwhile, fascism was going wild in his Herzegovina courtyard in the shape of 'black legions', Thompson concerts, with expressions of 'ustashism' of the worst kind, which is the Croat equivalent to Nazism and fascism. He did not mind those psychotic episodes, au contraire, he tried to justify them. He has strongly supported Dodik on his anti-EU road, while (mis)presenting himself to the international community as the 'leader of the European road of BiH'.

Therefore, since Dodik has wasted that decade and a half of the future of this country, Covic should not be allowed to waste one single day of it. He should not be allowed to keep providing alibi for Dodik and empowering his attacks on BiH. Without Covic, the leader of SNSD would be on the level of some cheeky little chief of Banja Luka local community.

They have been figured out. The next thing for them is to sing together at some local bulls fighting.