NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST ATTEMPTS TO USE PRESIDENCY FOR POLITICAL SHOWDOWNS

BANJA LUKA, MAY 14 /SRNA/ – The Serb member and Chairperson of the Presidency of BiH, Željka Cvijanović, stated that she initiated the mechanism for the protection of vital entity interests because she believes that an institutional response through the National Assembly of Republika Srpska is the best defense against attempts to use the BiH Presidency for political showdowns.

The Serb member and Chairperson of the BiH Presidency addressed the special session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska regarding the veto on the disputed conclusions made by Presidency members Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić. SRNA transmits her address in full: “I would like to thank you for the opportunity to address the deputies of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska after having been outvoted in the Presidency of BiH, and to ask for your support so that the decision made by majority vote—which I assessed to be detrimental to the vital interests of Republika Srpska—be annulled in accordance with constitutionally prescribed procedures. This is also an opportunity to express my gratitude for the support I have received from the National Assembly of Republika Srpska in similar situations in the past, whereby this high institution has clearly expressed its opposition to the practice of outvoting in the joint institutions of BiH. Allow me to begin by emphasizing that Republika Srpska insists on respect for the Constitution and the Dayton Peace Accords, which is the foundation for the functioning and survival of BiH. The essence of Dayton lies in consensus and agreement. And in the absence of consensus, the Constitution clearly outlines protection mechanisms—one of which is precisely this mechanism through which I now address the National Assembly of Republika Srpska. I also wish to emphasize that, since the beginning of my mandate in the BiH Presidency, I have acted in accordance with the Constitution, fully aware of the great responsibility this office entails, particularly in representing and protecting the interests of Republika Srpska. Likewise, I am fully aware of the constitutional principle of equality among all three members of the BiH Presidency, and I am defending that constitutionally granted equality by seeking support within the National Assembly of Republika Srpska. Today, I am not addressing you as a representative of any political party or as a resident of any local community in Republika Srpska, but as an elected representative of Republika Srpska who was outvoted on a very serious issue that aimed, once again, to demonstrate dominance or superiority of some over others. For that reason, after being outvoted in two rounds of voting by the other two members of the BiH Presidency on the agenda item titled ‘Discussion of the internal political situation in BiH regarding the attacks by the authorities of the Republika Srpska entity on the constitutional order of BiH’, I decided to initiate the mechanism for the protection of vital entity interests, because I believe that our institutional response through the National Assembly is the best defense against attempts to use the BiH Presidency for political showdowns.”