European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Stabilisation and Association Agreement) (Republic of Montenegro) Order 2009

I am most grateful to the Minister for her answer. I fully understand the British Government’s position on Bosnia. I support it and am delighted that the British Government follow that position. However, with great respect, the point I was trying to make is that there is not much point in our pressing for Bosnia to fulfil the conditions laid down by the European Union if Montenegro, seeking to join the European Union, actively undermines our policy in Bosnia. By giving comfort to Milorad Dodik, the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, who is pursuing a policy which not only blocks Bosnia’s passage to the European Union but encourages secessionism and the break-up of the state, we are allowing Montenegro to act in a way that is contrary to European policy and to the policy of the British Government. What I am asking the Minister is a complex question; I fully understand if she does not feel able to answer it now and I am perfectly happy to get a letter later on. I am asking her to assure us that, as part of Montenegro’s continuing progress down the path to Europe, we should require Milo Djukanovic and the Montenegran Government actively to support our Government’s policy with respect to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to give no comfort to the Republika Srpska Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik, who is seeking to pursue something contrary to both our interests and Bosnia’s interests.