The conclusions and legislation that Milorad Dodik and his partners in the Republika Srpska ruling coalition pushed through the RS National Assembly (RSNA) yesterday represent a direct attack on the state structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Peace Agreement. As Mr. Dodik and his cronies often do, they demonstrated their contempt for democracy and political pluralism with the despicable language they directed at assembly members who opposed these measures. This is sadly consistent with Mr. Dodik’s ongoing campaign to deprive the residents of Republika Srpska of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
It is no surprise that Mr. Dodik and his sycophants attacked the High Representative’s recent action to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process, given that free and fair elections present an existential threat to parties that rely on fraud to maintain their hold on power.
The draft RS election law passed yesterday would usurp state-level competencies and create a parallel electoral system. It is yet another example of Mr. Dodik’s destructive, anti-Dayton policies, which have hindered BiH’s journey toward Euro-Atlantic integration. And make no mistake, the recent progress Bosnia and Herzegovina has made toward European integration, while welcome, was made despite Mr. Dodik, not because of him.
If Mr. Dodik wanted to facilitate the closure of OHR and rapidly advance BiH’s integration into European institutions, he could do so by engaging in good faith negotiations aimed at forging consensus and compromise as well as by embracing reforms consistent with European standards rather than resisting them through a policy of blockades, blackmailing, and bullying.
Yesterday’s RSNA session is yet more evidence that Mr. Dodik does not care about the people of this country, including the residents of the Republika Sprska, and is prepared to sacrifice his constituents’ prosperity to his own narrow political and financial interests.
The United States strongly supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and multiethnic character, and we will continue to use the tools at our disposal to address anti-Dayton actions.
