SRPSKA DEMONSTRATES POLITICAL MATURITY AND NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BY ADOPTING DECLARATION

SARAJEVO, MAY 27 /SRNA/ – Council of Ministers Deputy Chair Staša Košarac told SRNA that by adopting the Declaration on closing the Office of High Representative /OHR/ in BiH, the Republika Srpska institutions once again demonstrated political maturity, national responsibility and democratic capacity.

"The Republika Srpska National Assembly reaffirmed its consistent position that the future of this country should be decided by democratically elected representatives of government, in accordance with the Constitution and the Dayton Peace Agreement," he assessed. Košarac emphasized that the Declaration sends a clear message that the time has come for local political representatives to assume full responsibility and for solutions in BiH to be the result of an internal agreement between the two entities and the three constituent peoples, without international tutelage or imposed solutions. "The demand to end the office of the high representative in BiH and to close the OHR is entirely legitimate, justified, and nationally responsible, given the fact that, in the past, high representatives, through their actions, devastated the Dayton Peace Agreement and further undermined relations in BiH. Not to mention the unlawful and unconstitutional actions of the self-declared High Representative, occupier Christian Schmidt," Košarac stated. He pointed out that the Republika Srpska National Assembly demonstrated how responsible policies and clear positions protect the interests of Republika Srpska and the Serb people, as well as the constitutional order and the interests of the other two constituent peoples and all citizens in BiH. "Republika Srpska consistently maintains the position that BiH can survive exclusively as a the Dayton-based category, through agreement between the two entities and the three constituent peoples, not under international tutelage or through decisions imposed by unappointed foreigners," Košarac said. He assessed that closing the OHR is a key step toward sovereignty, the full political responsibility of local institutions, and the creation of an environment in which agreement and mutual respect among the two entities and the three constituent peoples will be the sole basis for decision-making.