The Serb ministers in Bosnia & Herzegovina’s state-level government blocked a December 5 session in protest against the visit of Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Republika Srpska's Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic said in a statement on December 5.

Bosnian Serb politicians blocked the government’s work despite a recent meeting of the leaders of the state-level ruling coalition where they agreed to unfreeze state institutions and push forward stalled reforms that would unlock the start of EU membership talks and EU funding.

Viskovic said in a statement that while Republika Srpska, the Serb entity within Bosnia, aims to unblock the country’s EU path, it objects to Sarajevo inviting the leader of unrecognised state to visit.

Due to vetoes by the Serb entity’s politicians, Bosnia has not recognised Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Republika Srpska has been loyal to Serbia and is strongly pro-Russian, with its foreign policy strictly following that of Belgrade and Moscow.

“How do you get the right to do that?” Viskovic said, commenting on Kurti’s visit. “That is why there is no session of the Council of Ministers today [November 5], nor the Working Group for the development of the reforms agenda. It does not work that way and Republika Srpska has to be asked [to issue such invitations].” 

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik called Kurti’s visit a “symbol of disrespect and humiliation of the Serbian people”, claiming it was an attempt to create chaos in Bosnia.

“While Kurti, responsible for numerous attacks on the Serbian people and Orthodox shrines, is greeted with respect in Sarajevo, I, the elected president of Serbs in BiH, am being tried because I do not respect the laws that were not passed by the will of the people, but in the offices and kitchens of those who are behind this provocation today,” Dodik wrote on X.

“We do not need Dodik’s approval”

Despite Republika Srpska’s objections, Kurti arrived in Sarajevo late on December 5. He was invited by Adil Kulenovic, president of the Association of Independent Intellectuals Krug 99. Kurti was supposed to visit Bosnia on December 4-5 to participate in an EU-Western Balkans summit, but the event was cancelled by Sarajevo.

On December 6, Kurti met with two of the three members of Bosnia’s state-level presidency – Zeljko Komsic and Denis Becirovic. Only the Serb member, Zeljka Cvijanovic of Dodik’s Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) party, refused a meeting with the prime minister.

“Members of the presidency will not seek approval from Dodik or anyone else regarding whom they meet or the topics of discussion,” Komsic said during his meeting with Kurti as quoted by N1 news outlet.

He added that Republika Srpska does not have the authority to determine to whom state-level institutions will issue a visa. 

Bosnia comprises two autonomous entities – the Muslim-Croat Federation and Republika Srpska. Each of them has its own institutions and there are also state-level bodies where the three constituent peoples – the Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats – have representatives. The two entities do not have their own foreign ministries.

Komsic also reacted to international criticisms of Kurti’s visit — mainly from Serbia and Russia, as well as from other countries close to the Kremlin — describing them as attempts to undermine Bosnia’s sovereignty and put pressure on its independent foreign policy institutions.

Becirovic also welcomed Kurti and said that there was no doubt that Kosovo is an independent state. He attacked Republika Srpska’s politicians over their anti-Kosovo propaganda, saying it was “Goebbels-like”, N1 reported.

“Today, there is no discussion about the recognition of Kosovo because it is clear to everyone that such a decision requires consensus within the presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Responsible leaders must always adhere to constitutional and legal principles while engaging in constructive discussions about implementing agreements from the Berlin Process. We will not allow anyone to think they can dictate to Bosnian leaders whom they can meet, where, or when. They should abandon such notions permanently,” Becirovic said.

Kurti issued a brief statement on X after arriving in Sarajevo. He wrote his first act was to pay respect to the victims of the siege of Sarajevo during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. Kurti did not comment on Republika Srpska’s reactions.