OHR is concerned over a series of inflammatory statements made by the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska and chairman of the SNSD, Milorad Dodik, over the last few days, and in particular during an interview he gave to RTRS on 20 August 2007. His statements questioning the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH are detrimental to the country’s ongoing efforts to continue reforms and integrate into Euro-Atlantic institutions.
The PIC Steering Board, at its last session in Sarajevo on 19 June 2007, made clear that the International Community stands united: it will not tolerate any attempts to undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement and it will not remain passive in the face of provocative statements and acts.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is an internationally recognized state and Republika Srpska one of two entities of that state. Political representatives in BiH, in their statements and acts, are obliged to uphold the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina. OHR notes that Prime Minister Dodik signed a solemn declaration in advance of the October 2006 elections that commits himself and his party to “fully comply with the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina” and to accept sanctions if he fails to abide by its terms.
Milorad Dodik, alongside his function of Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, is also chairman of the SNSD, a political party whose members exercise important executive responsibilities at the state level, both in the Presidency and in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As such, Milorad Dodik should act with the appropriate deference for those responsibilities.
Prime Minister Dodik should consider carefully whether he wishes to challenge the International Community by statements that question the constitutional order of BiH and the Dayton Peace Agreement