FURTHER EXISTENCE OF OHR IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION WITH SOVEREIGNTY OF BiH AND ITS ASPIRATIONS FOR EU MEMBERSHIP

BANJA LUKA, MAY 24 /SRNA/ - Democratically elected institutions are the only legitimate holders of authority in Republika Srpska and BiH, and the continued existence of the Office of the High Representative /OHR/ is directly contrary to BiH’s sovereignty and its aspirations for EU membership, it is stated in the draft decision on adopting a declaration on the closure of the OHR in BiH, which will be considered on Monday by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska under an urgent procedure.

The competent institutions are called upon to annul all decisions made by Christian Schmidt and former High Representative Valentin Inzko, and to initiate the process of returning all constitutionally transferred competencies to the entities in BiH. In the draft declaration, the National Assembly of Republika Srpska rejects any form of foreign interventionism that resembles outdated methods of colonial administration, where decisions are made outside democratic institutions and the will of the citizens. The National Assembly considers that the use of the so-called Bonn Powers is legally unfounded, and that intervening in entity constitutions, imposing laws, or removing elected officials by an unelected foreign actor represents a gross violation of the democratic principle of popular sovereignty, Annex 4 and Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, entity constitutions, human rights, and international law. According to the document, the National Assembly of Republika Srpska strongly opposes the appointment of a new High Representative and calls on the Peace Implementation Council and the UN Security Council to urgently adopt a decision to close the OHR in BiH, whose presence has become an obstacle to internal dialogue and stability. If a new High Representative with the so-called Bonn Powers is appointed, Republika Srpska reserves the right to use all legal and political means to defend its interests and constitutional position within BiH, the draft declaration states. The draft declaration reads that after 30 years of interventionism, the time has come for BiH, with its two entities and three constituent peoples, to take responsibility for its own future. It emphasized that Republika Srpska remains committed to the Dayton Peace Agreement and calls on representatives of the Federation of BiH and the three constituent peoples to engage in direct dialogue on the country’s future, without mediation or pressure from international patrons. The declaration will be submitted to all relevant international institutions, embassies of the signatories of Annex 10, embassies of member countries of the Peace Implementation Council, the UN Security Council, and institutions at the level of Republika Srpska and BiH. According to the information on the need to close the OHR in BiH, included in this draft decision, Christian Schmidt decided to end his service in BiH, which was confirmed by the OHR in BiH on May 11, opening two options: the appointment of a new High Representative or the closure of the OHR. The best option for Republika Srpska is to close the Office. A transitional compromise solution could be the continuation of the Office without the so-called Bonn Powers, with a clearly limited mandate and a guarantee that this would be the last High Representative. If a new High Representative with the so-called Bonn Powers is appointed, Republika Srpska will use all legal and political means of struggle, including making it more difficult to form institutions of BiH after the general elections in October, and withdrawing representatives from the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, the Presidency of BiH, and the Council of Ministers. “Why should representatives of Republika Srpska participate in the formation and work of BiH institutions if someone else will do their job instead of them? Such a way of fighting for the positions of Republika Srpska is democratic, legitimate, and does not constitute a criminal offence,” the document concludes.