President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has threatened the independence of this entity from Bosnia and Herzegovina, if the high international representative in this country, Christian Schmidt, puts the law on properties into effect.

“Immediately after this, the National Assembly will convene and the status of independence of the Republika Srpska will be announced”, said Dodik on September 13 in Banja Llukë after a meeting with the representatives of the Republika Srpska (RS).

The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a single state, with two entities and the district of Bërcko, are guaranteed by the Dayton Peace Agreement. This agreement and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina do not allow the entities to secede.

On March 2, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina temporarily suspended the Law on Immovable Property used by public authorities in the RS, pending a final decision by the Constitutional Court.

During the press conference, Dodik said that they have agreed to include in the budget for next year an item that would provide income for the workers in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina with salary compensation, if the representatives of the RS withdraw from the institutions state.

Dodik, the Serbian member of the Bosnian Presidency, Zelka Cvijanovic, the Prime Minister of the RS, Radovan Cishkovic, the President of the National Assembly of this entity, Nenad Stevandic, and the Minister of Justice of the Republika Srpska, Milosh Bujellovic, are under US sanctions due to undermining Dayton Agreement.