KARAN: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DECISION MARKS PEAK OF ANTI-DAYTON ACTIONS

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 5 /SRNA/ – Professor of Constitutional Law Siniša Karan has stated that the decision of the incomplete Constitutional Court of BiH to reject the appeal of President Milorad Dodik represents the peak of anti-Dayton actions.

Speaking to reporters in Banja Luka, Karan said the consequences of such a decision are unforeseeable. Karan said that the Constitutional Court of BiH has trampled on the Constitution, yet it should have been its exclusive protector. According to Karan, this ruling has effectively turned BiH into a protectorate, the only one of its kind in the world. "This is crushing of any hope for a possible state arrangement for the three constituent peoples of BiH. The consequences of such an unconstitutional decision, which completely dismantles BiH's system, are unimaginable," Karan said. He added that the ruling does not foster stabilization in BiH but instead fuels conflict and undermines the formula for shared life in a multiethnic BiH. "With this decision, someone intended to fully create a unitary, civic BiH dictated by the will of just one people," Karan said. He emphasized that this is not only a direct attack on the institution of the President of Republika Srpska but also an assault on the will of the three constituent peoples. Karan pointed out that the process of dismantling the Dayton Agreement has been ongoing for 30 years, since its signing, and is most evident through the 913 imposed decisions by high representatives. He reminded that 166 laws have been imposed, each unconstitutionally transferring and usurping the powers of Republika Srpska. "We have 122 amendments to constitutions, 37 to the Constitution of Srpska. It is unimaginable that, after such blows to Republika Srpska, we have survived. Yet we have survived thanks to the strength and will of our people, who created Republika Srpska. That will was ultimately recognized and internationally secured by the Dayton Peace Accords," Karan stressed. He mentioned that for 30 years something anti-Dayton has been imposed, while Republika Srpska has been fighting for the Dayton principles for the same period. "We are fighting based on the principles laid down by the Dayton Agreement itself," Karan concluded.