Thewesternbalkans
The conclusions and legislation that Milorad Dodik and his partners in the Republika Srpska (RS) ruling coalition pushed through the RS National Assembly (RSNA) on March 28, represent a direct attack on the state structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Peace Agreement, the US Embassy said in response (Statement of the United States Embassy to BiH, March 29) to the decisions passed by MPs in Bosnia’s Serb-majority region, including a draft law that stipulates establishing of a parallel election system in this part of the country.
“As Mr. Dodik and his partners often do, they showed contempt for democracy and political pluralism by using outrageous language in addressing the members of the Assembly who opposed those measures. Unfortunately, this is in line with Mr. Dodik’s ongoing campaign whose goal is to deprive the citizens of Republika Srpska of their fundamental rights and freedoms,” it stated.
It also addressed RS President’s reaction to the decision of the international peace envoy in the country, who recently used his executive powers to impose technical changes to Bosnia’s electoral legislation, to improve the transparency and integrity of the elections.
“It is no surprise that Mr. Dodik and his sycophants attacked the High Representative’s recent action to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process, given that free and fair elections present an existential threat to parties that rely on fraud to maintain their hold on power. The draft RS election law passed yesterday would usurp state-level competencies and create a parallel electoral system. It is yet another example of Mr. Dodik’s destructive, anti-Dayton policies, which have hindered BiH’s journey toward Euro-Atlantic integration. And make no mistake, the recent progress Bosnia and Herzegovina has made toward European integration, while welcome, was made despite Mr. Dodik, not because of him,” according to the embassy.
As for Dodik’s insisting that foreign officials, including the High Representative, must leave the country, it stressed that if Mr. Dodik wants to facilitate the closure of the Office of the High Representative and accelerate the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina into European institutions, he can do so by engaging in constructive negotiations aimed at achieving consensus and compromise, as well as by accepting reforms that are in line with European standards instead of resisting them with a policy of blocking, blackmail and harassment.
In the end, the embassy reaffirmed strong support of the United States to Bosnia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and multi-ethnic character.
Comments: The sharpness of the statement of the US Embassy in Sarajevo and the immediate response of Milorad Dodik are indicators of the diametrical opposition between the positions of the American side and the leadership of Republika Srpska on the issues of electoral legislation in the country, as well as on the general assessment of the implementation of The Dayton Peace Accords over the past 20 years. Both sides accuse each other of trying to destroy Dayton. Although the statement from the US Embassy in Sarajevo left the door open for negotiations (“good faith negotiations“), Dodik responded with counter-accusations and resorted to sharp personal attacks against ambassador Murphy and the mission´s staff.
