The President of the entity Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik stated that the National Assembly of the entity he leads will not accept decisions taken by what he called “the fake high representative” Christian Schmidt.
This statement comes after the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt revoked two anti-Dayton decisions of the Republika Srpska entity assembly, regarding the non-publication of decisions by the High Representative and the non-implementation of decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“We will not accept any decision he [Schmidt] has made. If the Office of the Prosecutor and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina act according to his decisions, we will pass a law in Republika Srpska that rejects that Office of the Prosecutor and the Court,” said Dodik, the pro-Russian leader of the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the president of the governing Alliance of Independent Social Democrats in Republika Srpska.
In his media statement, Dodik also said that it is possible for “Republika Srpska to call a referendum on important issues” by the end of the year.
In his final exercise of Bonn Powers, Schmidt also amended provisions of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, expanding it to treat actions that violate the constitutional order as criminal offenses, just like non-compliance with decisions of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Officials from Republika Srpska led by Dodik challenge the legitimacy of the High Representative because his official appointment in the United Nations Security Council was opposed by China and Russia.
Dodik stated that it was “a synchronized, despicable attack designed against Republika Srpska and Serbia with the aim of overthrowing the authorities in Republika Srpska and Serbia”.
“At this moment, there is a synchronized attack against me as the President of Republika Srpska and Vučić as the President of Serbia,” said Dodik, without explaining why the decisions of the High Representative are a “blow to Serbia and Vučić”, as they are valid and enforceable exclusively within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dodik also stated that he believes in the “unity of Republika Srpska and Serbia” and emphasized that it is time for Serbia and Republika Srpska to have a unified policy to protect Serbian national and state interests.
He declared that he will enforce the laws revoked by Schmidt and initiate the procedure of non-acceptance of the jurisdiction of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Agency for Investigations and Protection within the territory of the Republika Srpska entity.
He once again emphasized the anti-Dayton belief that Republika Srpska will one day be independent.
