Bosnia and Herzegovina: Democratic Resilience

Lord Callanan Excerpts

Tuesday 25th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We have put a lot of diplomatic energy into our relationship with Serbia, and there have been visits from the Foreign Secretary. My honourable friend Stephen Doughty, the Minister with responsibility for Europe, has convened several meetings, which we think have been helpful and are moving things in a more positive direction. Nevertheless, it is important that we are realistic and clear-eyed about our relationships and the need to continue to work very closely with Serbia, because it is vital to maintaining the stability of the region.

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, Siniša Karan, who is a close ally of the dismissed President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has criticised what he calls foreign intervention in its politics. Can the Minister explain whether that fear of foreign influence will perhaps undermine efforts to strengthen democratic processes in the region, and how her department intends to manage that challenge?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Well, I think anyone who is a close ally of the former leader in Srpska probably would say something like that, and they would not be someone we would look to for guidance on this issue. We feel that we need to stay very close to what was agreed at Dayton, working closely with our allies and partners, as we do, to support the Office of the High Representative. I realise this is controversial in some places, but this is the way stability has been maintained for 30 years. As the right reverend Prelate reminded us, in the scheme of issues such as this, that can be seen as not that great a length of time. It is essential that we stick with the institutions and models we have for as long as we feel they are necessary.