2024-09-07 02:42:24
Currently, the implementation of the Dayton Agreement is deteriorating, the interests of the Serbs in the Bosnian Republika Srpska are being harmed. Russia categorically disagrees with this and fully supports the Serbs, said the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with TASS within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum, which is being held in Vladivostok.
“Moscow and Belgrade share the same opinion about attempts to trample on the foundations laid by the Dayton Agreement. The situation is really getting worse now and it is very difficult for the Serbs. It’s hard for Serbs in Serbia and it’s hard for Serbs in Republika Srpska. The foundations of the Dayton Agreement are really being eroded, the interests of the Serbs are being harmed. We categorically disagree with this and fully support our Serbian friends,” Peskov pointed out.
According to the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the inter-ethnic war in Bosnia in 1995, the country was divided into two semi-autonomous parts – the Republika Srpska, populated mainly by Bosnian Serbs, and the Muslim-Croat Federation (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina), where Bosnian Muslims live. (Bosniaks) and Bosnian Croats. Each part has its own government, parliament and police, but the two parts are connected through common state-level institutions, including a tripartite multi-ethnic presidential institution, judiciary, army, security services and tax administration.
When asked if Russia could help in any way, Peskov replied that Moscow’s options in this matter are very limited. “But at least Russia’s position is clearly stated, including in the international arena, and this is an effective enough leverage for support,” he added.
In June, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik told TASS that a referendum on the independence of the constituent part of Bosnia and Herzegovina would be held, with the date to be determined based on the interests of the parties. According to him, the Republika Srpska remaining part of Bosnia and Herzegovina “is synonymous with a waste of time and opportunities.” “That’s why we need to implement what we want as soon as possible to stop wasting resources hoping in vain that Bosnia and Herzegovina can do something,” he noted.
Bosnia is essentially governed by a High Representative of the International Community (a post created under the Dayton Agreement), who is appointed by the Steering Committee of the Peace Agreement Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina after approval of the nomination by the UN Security Council. In May 2021, however, the ambassadors of the countries of the steering committee decided to appoint Christian Schmidt as the new high representative in BiH without the approval procedure in the UN Security Council, writes BTA. Now the leadership of Republika Srpska does not recognize Schmidt’s legitimacy.
Dodik has repeatedly warned of his readiness to declare independence for the autonomous region in the event of further attempts by Schmidt to lobby for laws that violate the rights of Bosnian Serbs. On January 9, Republika Srpska celebrates a national holiday. Bosnian authorities declared the holiday unconstitutional and Schmidt called on law enforcement to disrupt the festivities.