In the run up to the second Constituent Session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, the OHR wou1d like to point again to the following paragraph in the Contact Group Statement given in Washington on 8th January 1998:
“The Contact Group urges that a new Prime Minister be confirmed at the next session of the Republika Srpska Assembly, scheduled for January 12, so that a new Republika Srpska Government, committed to full Dayton implementation and cooperation with the High Representative and the International Community, can be established within the timeframe set out in the Republika Srpska Constitution. The full engagement of the International Community, including economic support, in the development of Republika Srpska as a prosperous Entity within a united Bosnia depends on formation of a new, pro- Dayton government. The Contact Group expects Belgrade to use its influence to support the creation of such a government in the Republika Srpska as part of its responsibilities as a regional guarantor of Dayton”.
The Assembly is expected to elect its officials and working Committees without further delay in order to constitute itself formally and to vote on the Prime Minister and the Cabinet List he will propose. The High Representative expects all Deputies to actively and constructively take part in the decision making process to allow the Parliamentary procedures to take the normal course. Obstruction and deliberate delay of the work of the National Assembly cannot be tolerated. The International Community needs a functioning and responsible RS Government to further implement the Dayton Peace Agreement and to be the partner for economic assistance which the RS citizens urgently need. After the unanimous statement of the Parliament on 27 December 1997, the HR expects all technical prerequisites to be in place for a live broadcast of the forthcoming session.