The Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željka Cvijanović, spoke on Tuesday with the Chairperson of the OSCE and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Elina Valtonen. The meeting, which was also attended by two other members of the Presidency of BiH, discussed the current political and security situation in BiH and the region.
Chairperson Cvijanović informed her interlocutors about the positions of the Republika Srpska regarding the deepest political crisis in BiH since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, “caused by the imposition of decisions by the illegally elected High Representative, which are being used as a basis for the trial of legally elected representatives of the institutions of Republika Srpska”, the Office of the Chairperson of the Presidency of BiH, Željka Cvijanović, announced.
Cvijanović said that the process against legitimate office holders of the institutions of Republika Srpska represents “the most brutal violation of the rule of law and putting the judicial system in BiH at the service of political persecution, assessing such a practice as outrageous and unacceptable in a democratic society”.
During the meeting, the Chairperson of the Presidency of BiH emphasized the firm and clear commitment of the institutions of Republika Srpska and its representatives to preserving and defending the constitutional competences of all levels of government in BiH and the Dayton Peace Agreement, stating that the imposition of decisions by the High Representative, who was not appointed in accordance with Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, has seriously undermined the democratic principles and functioning of BiH.
Chairperson Cvijanović emphasized on this occasion that in order to overcome the challenges and political crisis that BiH is facing, it is necessary to “stop usurping the competences of legally elected institutions and return to the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Constitution of BiH”, exclusively through mutual respect and internal dialogue of democratically elected representatives, within domestic institutions.
The interlocutors jointly assessed that solutions in BiH must be achieved through internal dialogue, while respecting the Dayton Agreement and the Constitution of BiH.
Chairwoman Cvijanović stressed that peace in BiH is not threatened, and pointed out that “the threats made by Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Denis Bećirović would mean that Bosniaks would attack Serbs, and the BiH Armed Forces would disintegrate”.
Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović expressed her gratitude to the OSCE Mission to Chairwoman Valtonen for her understanding and support so far in the implementation of numerous projects in BiH.
