The United Kingdom (UK) delegation to the OSCE has responded to the decision of Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik to sign decrees proclaiming laws that prohibit the work of state institutions in this entity.
“The UK remains concerned about the rise of dangerous ethno-nationalist politics that seek to undermine the statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The people of BiH need political leaders who will focus on implementing reforms, not on escalating tensions and engaging in dangerous separatist moves,” the statement reads.
They state that they are “concerned” about the laws adopted by the National Assembly of RS (NARS) and signed by Dodik, which they say are “contrary to the Dayton Peace Agreement.”
“These unconstitutional actions obstruct institutions such as the BiH Court from exercising their legal authority,” the UK’s position states.
They called on “all actors to fully respect the Dayton Peace Agreement and the state institutions of BiH.”
“We reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to the territorial integrity of BiH and our support for a unified, sovereign state consisting of two entities, in which all its peoples and citizens are equal,” the UK stated.
They also added that Dodik’s actions “do not serve the interests of the people in BiH” and that they are “Dodik’s attempts to undermine and divert attention from the decision of an independent court.”
