Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik Defies Western-Backed Laws
Bosnian Serb president Milorad Dodik has vowed to defy new Western-backed laws imposed to halt his drift into secession.
RS Refuses to Implement Decisions of Bosnian Constitutional Court
The latest flashpoint comes after Dodik’s Republika Srpska (RS) decided to no longer implement the decisions of the Bosnian Constitutional Court, in a dispute over the mosaic of its ethnic composition.
RS Rejects Legally Validating Decrees by International High Representative
RS also decided to no longer legally validate decrees by the EU and US-backed international High Representative in Sarajevo last week.
German Politician Repeals RS Decisions Using Dayton Accords Powers
The international envoy, German politician Christian Schmidt, repealed all that on Saturday (1 July), using last-resort powers under the 1995 Dayton Accords, which ended an ethnic war.
Dodik Reacts with Inflammatory Rhetoric
But Dodik hit back on Sunday, using inflammatory rhetoric.
Dodik Vows to Defy Restrictions and Promulgate RS Laws
“These laws [against Sarajevo’s court and Schmidt] were adopted by the RS National Assembly with a two-thirds majority and they will remain in force and I will promulgate them,” he promised.
Dodik Pledges to Strengthen the Inter-Entity Line and Reject Bosnian Prosecutors
Dodik vowed to “strengthen the inter-entity line”, reject the authority of Bosnian prosecutors in the future, and beef up Republika Srpska’s police force.
Legal Clash Framed as Existential Conflict for Serbs
He also framed the legal clash as an existential conflict for Serbs in Bosnia, speaking at a memorial for the WW2 Battle of Kozara.
Republika Srpska and Russia Reject Authority of “Fake High Representative”
Republika Srpska and Russia do not recognise the authority of what Dodik also called the “fake high representative”, saying Schmidt has first to be endorsed by the UN Security Council, where Russia has a veto.
EU and US Support Dayton Guarantor
But the EU and the US backed the Dayton guarantor.
EU Regrets RS Laws and High Representative’s Intervention
“The laws adopted by the RS National Assembly are a direct attack on the integrity of the Constitutional Court of BiH [Bosnia and Herzegovina] and on the BiH Constitution,” the EU foreign service said. “The EU regrets that it was inevitable for the High Representative to act to put them out of force,” it added.
US Embassy in Sarajevo Supports Territorial Integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The US embassy in Sarajevo said: “The United States supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multi-ethnic character of Bosnia and Herzegovina and will continue to hold individuals engaged in anti-Dayton behaviour responsible for their actions”.
EU Peacekeeping Soldiers in Bosnia under Operation Althea
The EU has around 1,100 peacekeeping soldiers in Bosnia under the so-called Operation Althea.
Dodik Under US Sanctions, Hungary Offers Protection
Dodik is under US sanctions, but Hungary has vowed to shield him from any EU measures.
Increase in Volatility in Western Balkans
The uptick in volatility in the Western Balkans includes violent clashes between ethnic Serbs and Albanians in northern Kosovo last month, which injured Nato soldiers.
EU Threatens Withholding Funds Over Local Elections
EU foreign ministers, last week, discussed withholding funds for Kosovo and Serbia if they act as spoilers in a rerun of hotly-contested local elections.
Fear of Dodik Calling a Referendum on Secession
But the EU fear on Bosnia is that Dodik might call a referendum on secession in autumn.
EU Urges Dodik to Work Constructively for Reforms
And the EU’s message to him was to back down for the sake of his own people, who joined the accession line as official EU candidates last December. “The EU strongly urges the RS authorities to stop unilateral actions and instead to work constructively so that Bosnia and Herzegovina may be able to deliver on reforms for the benefits for all citizens, seizing the opportunity offered by [EU] candidate status,” the EU foreign service said.
