At yesterday’s session of ambassadors of the Steering Committee of the Peace Implementation Council, it was discussed about the referendum announced by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska. It was confirmed that decisions by the Constitutional Court of BiH are binding and final and that entities must respect the decisions reached by institutions of BiH.
“The Constitution of BiH undoubtedly defines that decisions by the Constitutional Court of BiH are final and binding and that entities are obliged to respect decisions reached by institutions of BiH. In that context, the proposed referendum in Republika Srpska, which asks the voters to declare on the issue that had already been considered by the Constitutional Court of BiH, has a destabilizing character and raises political tensions that draw attention from very serious economic and social challenges that BiH faces currently. We invite the authorities of RS to stop the referendum,” the joint statement said.
It was pointed out that although a referendum on entity holidays can be under jurisdiction of a single entity, any kind of referendum must be implemented in accordance with the Constitution of BiH and must not violate the Framework Peace Agreement or the constitutional framework of BiH.
“Ambassadors of the Steering Committee of the Peace Implementation Council have acknowledged the assurances by the Government of RS that the aim of the referendum is to be ‘a step towards the implementation of the decision by the Constitutional Court of BiH. However, PIC also found that president of RS Milorad Dodik and National Assembly of RS have disputed the jurisdiction of state judicial institutions in BiH several times. Such statements and moves are contrary to the Framework Peace Agreement and the rule of law, and are simply unacceptable,” the ambassadors stated.
PIC once again confirmed his support to the High Representative as the final authority for interpretation of civil aspects of the Framework Peace Agreement, in accordance with Annex 10 of the Agreement and relevant resolutions by the Security Council of the United Nations.
“Steering Committee of PIC invites the institutions of BiH to solve this issue through established legal procedures and the existing constitutional framework, and through constructive dialogue,” the statement said.
It was pointed out that the Steering Committee of PIC will continue monitoring this issue and further development of events, with a note that Russia does not join this statement.
(Source: klix.ba)
