The Assembly of the Republika Srpska (RS) will hold a special session on September 14th, where the vital interest of this entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will be discussed. It was initiated by Milorad Dodik, a member of the Presidency of BiHat the last session of that institution, resenting the granting of an agreement to the new German ambassador to BiH.
Dodik and high-ranking members of his party (Union of Independent Social Democrats) linked the veto to the Resolution adopted by the German Bundestag in July of this year. They claim that the Resolution is a continuation of Germany’s “anti-constitutional and anti-Dayton” foreign policy.
On September 2nd, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany assessed Dodik’s accusations as unfounded. In the press release, it was stated that that country supports the Dayton agreement, which established the existence of RS.
‘Germany calls for the abolition of entities‘
“The German parliament (Bundestag) adopted a resolution in which it is written that BiH should change its constitutional arrangement, that entities should not exist. This means that Germany’s official policy is that the RS should no longer exist. We have to we say that is unacceptable for us.” (Radovan Kovacevic, adviser to BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik, September 12th)
False
In July of this year, the Bundestag of Germany passed a Resolution entitled “Providing support to BiH on the way to a better future”. In it, the German government is asked to intensify its engagement in BiH. It is not stated that Germany is in favor of abolishing entities.
‘By amending the Constitution of BiH, they want to abolish the RS’
“This – for the stability of BiH – dangerous resolution, it even foresees a change in the organization in BiH, advocating the abolition of entities, and thus the basis of peaceful coexistence and legitimate representation of the three constituent peoples, which is the entity vote. Encroachment on the Dayton Peace Agreement and imposing changes to the Constitution directly leads to the abolition of RS.” (Milorad Dodik, member of the BiH Presidency, September 5th).
False
The Resolution of the German Bundestag does not mention changes in the organization of BiH, but calls for changes to the Constitution of BiH in order to overcome its discriminatory provisions.
‘They demand respect for the ‘state’ of the RS’
“We respect the German state, the Germans as a people, but we also ask for a minimum of respect for our people and for our country RS.” (Radovan Kovacevic, adviser to BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik, Banjaluka, September 12th)
False
RS is not a state.
In the Constitution of BiH, RS is a constitutional category within the state of BiH, which is internationally recognized within its borders. RS represents one of its two entities, Radio Slobodna Evropa reports.
E.Dz.
