05/26/2006 OHR Sarajevo

Ambassador Butler Asks for Clarification from RS Prime Minister on Referenda Reports

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The Principal Deputy High Representative Lawrence Butler contacted RS Prime Minister Dodik today for clarification following press reports in which the RS Prime Minister is reported to have talked about new referenda in the region.

Ambassador Butler emphasized that the RS is bound by the Dayton Peace Agreement, an internationally binding treaty which recognizes  Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign independent state. As the RS is bound by the Agreement, Ambassador Butler said that officials here must work for the future of BiH, within its constitutionally agreed structures, towards full Euro Atlantic integration, and not speculate on events unrelated to BiH.  

Commenting on the recent referendum in Montenegro , Ambassador Butler said that there is no linkage between events in Montenegro and BiH. “ Bosnia and Herzegovina is an internationally recognized sovereign state. I see no relation between events elsewhere in the region and here,” said the PDHR. 

“Public officials would be best served by using the next 100 days to do the job the public pay them for and deliver the reforms which will improve the situation in the country by bring in investment and creating jobs and ensuring that the rule of law applies. The practical way to do this is to adopt laws regulating obligations, banking supervision and higher education to name but a few. Like the citizens of BiH, the International Community measures by results and not words”, he said.