WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J.GDNUS
American lawyer Mark Zell, chairman of the Republican Party in Israel, recently registered as a lobbyist on behalf of Republika Srpska, whose president Milorad Dodik faces an international arrest warrant while attending a conference in Israel, organized by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
One of the main goals of the lobbying is to lift the sanctions that the United States has imposed on Dodik, known for his secessionist and pro-Russian views.
According to Haaretz, under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), any American citizen or company representing a foreign entity is required to report such activities in advance. According to US data, Zell's firm – Zell & Associates International Advocates – was registered as a lobbyist for Republika Srpska in January of this year.
Zell, who lives in the Israeli settlement of Kfar Etzion in the West Bank, provided that address when he registered. His firm, according to documents, has offices in New York, Washington, Toronto, Moscow and Amman. Zell will receive $840,000 for his services.
According to the contract signed by Milorad Dodik’s chief of staff, cited by Haaretz, the main goal of the lobbying is “to establish and promote dialogue between Republika Srpska and the future administration of Donald Trump, with the aim of improving relations between the RS, its leadership and the United States of America.”
It goes on to say that this potential rapprochement will take place “in the context of geopolitical changes affecting the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, in particular due to the war between Ukraine and Russia and its possible conclusion.”
Zell’s registration was dated January 13 – a few days before Trump returned to the White House and well before his administration began any talks on resolving the war in Ukraine.
When asked by Haaretz, Zel said: "The information you provided me is incomplete, inaccurate and therefore misleading. Beyond that, I have no comment."
Dodik's international arrest warrant
Documents show that Zel will work to lift personal sanctions against Dodik, as well as former Republika Srpska President Željka Cvijanović, the current member of the BiH Presidency. If successful, the law firm will receive an additional bonus.
Haaretz recalls that in February this year, Dodik was sentenced to a year in prison and a six-year ban from holding public office for disobeying the decisions of the High Representative in BiH. The BiH Court issued an international arrest warrant for Dodik last week.
Although the verdict is still subject to appeal, Dodik rejected it as illegitimate, accusing the BiH judicial system of "abuse of rights." He stressed that BiH is a "failed state."
While facing legal proceedings, Dodik visited Serbia, where he met with President Aleksandar Vučić, and then traveled to Israel for a conference organized by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. The gathering was attended by representatives of European right-wing parties, as well as the former president of Paraguay, who is under US sanctions for his ties to Hezbollah.
According to Haaretz, Dodik left the conference shortly after arriving. A source from the event’s organization said that he “was present for barely an hour and did not participate in the main sessions.” When asked whether he left the event voluntarily or was asked to leave, the source replied that he was “politely asked to leave the gathering.”
Israel refuses to comment on extradition
Israel and Bosnia are signatories to the European Convention on Extradition, which obliges member states to extradite wanted persons, with certain exceptions. Israel’s Justice Ministry would not comment on whether Bosnia has filed a request for Milorad Dodik’s extradition.
Interestingly, Zell, who is now lobbying on behalf of Dodik, previously donated to the campaign of Senator Marco Rubio, the current US Secretary of State in the Trump administration. Rubio, however, recently criticized Dodik on social media, stating:
“The actions of the President of Republika Srpska undermine the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and threaten its security and stability.” He called on US allies to “oppose this dangerous and destabilizing behavior.”
