The EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to carry out its tasks in accordance with the mandate given to it, and EUFOR’s policy is not to comment on operational matters in the country, said the EUFOR in a reponse to FENA about the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The question was related to whether EUFOR plans to undertake measures and actions that would guarantee the safety of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in connection with the situation in Sarajevo in the context of announcements to hold an event to commemorate the unconstitutional day of Republika Srpska – January 9.
Earlier, the Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Selmo Cikotić, sent a letter to the commander of EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Major General Anton Wessely, due to security threats related to the commemoration of January 9 in the area of East Sarajevo.
Minister Cikotić informed Commander Wessely that available information from intelligence and security structures points to the possible presence of several radical and extremist groups from the RS, Serbia and Russia in the territory of the Republika Srpska entity.
He also reminded of the reactions of veterans’ associations in Sarajevo Canton, who consider this event unacceptable, given that the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared the marking of this date unconstitutional, the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.
Bearing in mind the possible threats to peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina that this event may cause, Minister Cikotić expressed the expectation that EUFOR will take adequate measures to ensure the legal and constitutional functioning of all institutions, as well as peace and security in BiH.
Senior officials of the Bosnia and Herzegovina entity Republika Srpska have announced that today will be the day of the entity even though this is against the decision of the highest court in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the central ceremony should be in East Sarajevo.
Failure to implement the decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a criminal offense, and the organizers of the unconstitutional celebration could be subject to judicial proceedings, because celebrating January 9 as the Day of the RS, as determined by the decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, also violates the European Convention of Human Rights.
In 2019, the Constitutional Court adopted the request of nine delegates of the People’s Council of the Republika Srpska for the review of the constitutionality of the Law on the Day of the Republika Srpska, and it was determined that the contested provision, which reads: “Based on the confirmed will of the citizens of the Republika Srpska, January 9 is established as the Day of the Republic” , is not in accordance with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Due to the announcement of these events, police activities in the country were also intensified, and the authorities announced that measures and actions are continuously being taken to protect the safety of citizens. The exchange of security-related information with all police agencies and the Intelligence and Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been intensified, as well as the increased presence of police officers.
