ADOPTED DECLARATION - DEFEND THE INSTITUTIONS OF SRPSKA FROM ALL ATTEMPTS TO REVOKE COMPETENCIES

BANJA LUKA, JULY 7 /SRNA/ - The National Assembly of Republika Srpska unanimously adopted the Declaration on the Protection of Vital National Interests of the Serb People in BiH under an urgent procedure, which emphasized the importance of defending the democratically elected institutions of Republika Srpska from all attempts to reduce or abolish their competencies and transfer them to the level of joint institutions of BiH with the aim of unitarization.

The Declaration also states that it is necessary, through parliamentary and other procedures, to initiate proceedings for the annulment of a series of decisions by High Representatives that were made on the basis of the so-called Bonn powers, to which the parties to the Dayton Peace Agreement and the signatories of its annexes never formally or officially gave their consent. Therefore, it is purposeful to restore the Dayton competencies of Republika Srpska, which were taken away from it against the will of Republika Srpska as a contracting party, as well as against the constitution and laws, with the wholehearted support of a part of the international community and unitarian forces in BiH. Ultimately, this entails the termination of the mandate of the OHR and the High Representative, and turning to dialogue and political agreement among all relevant political subjects on the future of BiH, the Declaration states. It is also stated that the National Assembly of Republika Srpska recalls the importance of preventing all attempts to confiscate the property of Republika Srpska by transferring ownership and its use to the BiH level. In this sense, it is necessary to tighten legal regulations and penalize all abuses related to this vital national issue, and to use all means of its protection from any form of imposition and interventionism, in accordance with the right of peoples to self-determination from the Charter of the United Nations, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the principles contained in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States. The protection of cultural and historical heritage, including monuments of national culture, language, alphabet, Orthodox churches, Serbian cemeteries, and the like, from their denial, appropriation, and revision of historical facts in this area is of exceptional importance. The goal should be, the Declaration reads, a demographically and economically sustainable and socially stable Republika Srpska in which all its parts will develop equally to provide young people with equal opportunities for a normal life with a certain perspective for them and their families if they stay in the environments where they were born and where they can have secure employment. Stable economic development implies the harshest crackdown on crime and corruption, especially in public enterprises and institutions. The National Assembly of Republika Srpska calls for the further deepening of cooperation with the Republic of Serbia based on the Agreement on the Establishment of Special Parallel Relations between Republika Srpska and the Republic of Serbia in the economic, cultural, educational, infrastructural, security, and all other sectors. This cooperation is in no way directed against the other two peoples in BiH or against any neighboring country, but rather contributes to peace and stability in BiH. Its goal is to further strengthen and consolidate the Serbian national identity and for Republika Srpska and the Republic of Serbia to remain reliable guarantors of the survival of the Serbian people in these historically turbulent Balkan regions, the Declaration states. Out of 56 MPs present, 55 voted, all of whom were in favor of the Declaration. The Declaration was proposed by the President of the National Assembly, Nenad Stevandić, at the request of the Veterans' Organization of Republika Srpska and the Association "Creators of Republika Srpska". The adopted decision enters into force on the eighth day from the day of its publication in the "Official Gazette of Republika Srpska". After the Declaration was voted on, the President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska concluded the 40th special session of the Srpska parliament.