Stone calls on Foreign Office to 'keep an eye on our own backyard'

Liberal Democrat Defence spokesperson, Jamie Stone MP, today mounted pressure on the Government to evaluate its plans to maintain security and peace in the Western Balkans.

The statement comes in light of increasing accusations that Milorad Dodik, a member of Bosnia's three-person presidency, is undermining Bosnian integrity.

Mr Dodik has been threatening to withdraw the Serb territory, Republika Srpska, from Bosnia-Herzegovina, sparking fears that a revival of an ethnic Serb army is to be introduced. Christian Schmidt, the international high representative in Bosnia, has told the UN that Dodik's plans represent an "existential threat" to the country.

After speaking on the statement, Mr Stone commented: "There is a real concern that unrest in the Western Balkans will do serious damage to our own nation's peace and security. With Russia and China not having any hesitation to get involved with European affairs, any cracks in Bosnia must be patched up before a knock-on effect is felt in neighbouring countries, the UK included.

"What's more, the Government is destroying our own military from the inside, with cuts to troop numbers and additional cuts to defence spending announced in the most recent Budget. I fear that these decisions will seriously hinder any capability of the UK Armed Forces to maintain peace in Bosnia."

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