She warned that "the Republika Srpska leadership is undermining the constitutional order of the country and threatening the fundamental human rights of all citizens".

"We will not tolerate any threats to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and constitutional order of this country. Any attempts to divide the country are unacceptable," Kalas said, addressing soldiers of EUFOR, the EU military mission in BiH, which also has an executive mandate from the UN to ensure the country's stability through the use of force.

She recalled that the EU sent hundreds of additional soldiers to BiH in March and that EUFOR is supporting the country's armed forces through training and support for demining.

"We are concerned about this country and its future. Incendiary rhetoric and attempts to divide are dangerous, unacceptable and pose a direct threat to BiH," Kallas told EUFOR soldiers at Camp Butmir near Sarajevo airport, where most of the EU troops are stationed.

Separately, at a press conference with Kalas, Bosnian Muslim presidency member Denis Becirovic said there was a "tragic illusion" in Republika Srpska that there could be a non-violent partition of the country.

"This is a dangerous illusion that could lead to disaster," he warned.

Serbian presidency member Zeljka Cvijanovic dismissed the accusations against the Dodik administration, insisting it was seeking "dialogue".

"Nothing is happening in Republika Srpska that is aimed at destroying the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Cvijanovic said.

Bosnia is a candidate for EU membership, but the political situation does not allow the adoption of the laws needed to start negotiations.

As part of his visit to the Western Balkans, the EU High Representative visited Tirana earlier today, 8 April. There she met separately with Albanian President Bajram Begai and Prime Minister Edi Rama. On that occasion, she stressed that Albania is a strong partner of the EU and that as a NATO member it is fully aligned with the Union's foreign and security policy.

On 7 April, she visited Podgorica, where she met Prime Minister Miloiko Spic, and in Cetinje, President of Montenegro, Yakov Milatovic. On that occasion, he reaffirmed Montenegro's determination to do everything to be ready for EU membership by 2028.

Kallas said in Podgorica that she was concerned about regional stability and announced that this would be discussed during her visit to Sarajevo. She also said that normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina was important.

During her confirmation hearing as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kallas pledged to work to make EU enlargement a reality.

Six countries in the Western Balkans - with the exception of Kosovo - as well as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Turkey are candidates to join the bloc. | BGNES