Concern Regarding the Arrival of Zeljka Cvijanovic in the US

Honorable representative, I write to express my grave concern over the arrival of Željka Cvijanović, the President of the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entity of Republika Srpska (RS), to the US this week. I am perplexed by the inconsistency between the foreign policy positions of the United States (US) toward Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia) and South East Europe, while permitting Ms. Cvijanović to freely enter the US and meet with US officials. It is well documented that Ms. Cvijanović is a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime and its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. She has been sanctioned by the government of Great Britain (which includes a travel ban) for deliberately undermining democratic institutions in Bosnia. Encouraged by President Putin, her reckless behavior threatens stability and security across South East Europe. She consistently glorifies convicted war criminals and is an open genocide denier, each of which was outlawed by the Office of the High Representative with support from the US and the European Union. To permit such a person to freely enter the United States and meet with its officials is incomprehensible and should cease immediately.   In that regard, I request that the US government take the following actions:   1. Similar to the actions of the British government, request that the United States Department of Treasury immediately add Ms. Cvijanović to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List;   2. Similar to the actions of the British government, request that the United States Department of State immediately bar Ms. Cvijanović from entering the United States; and   3. Request that all United States officials, elected or otherwise, promptly cancel any and all scheduled meetings with Ms. Cvijanović;   The US government has taken similar actions against other individuals from RS, including, most notably, Milorad Dodik, who is the president of the political party that Ms. Cvijanović belongs to. Mr. Dodik’s loyalty to President Putin is well known and was on full display during their last meeting on June 18, 2022, in Russia. Mr. Dodik continues to block sanctions against Russia at the Bosnian state level and has prevented Bosnia from joining the US and its European allies in enforcing them. Ms. Cvijanović is Mr. Dodik’s right hand person and most trusted lieutenant. By allowing her entry into the US, we are allowing President Putin’s political ally to meet with and exert influence over US officials. Failing to take the above-mentioned actions urgently and promptly, will only encourage other pro-Putin, secessionist elements, within the RS and beyond, to act similarly and will severely undermine the efforts of the US government and its foreign policy initiatives in Bosnia and in South East Europe