Balkans | The High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina evaluated the celebrations on January 9 of Republika Srpska

High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt said he believes that the “Day of January 9 of Republika Srpska”, which is celebrated in Bosnia and Herzegovina despite being unconstitutional, will be different next year.

And Schmidt, while participating in a local TV channel, made assessments about the RS Day, which was declared unconstitutional in the country, and the actions of the President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik.

Schmidt said: “I am not against Republika Srpska or the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrating their day, but do not underestimate the issue of BH’s status as a candidate for the European Union (EU). BH needs to accept European standards and we will work patiently on that. We have a lot of ideas that we want Implement it and we’ll see how it develops. I think next January 9 will look different.” He said.

Pointing out that Dodik has obligations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Schmidt said that he is ready to cooperate, but it is not good to carry out actions against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While Schmidt criticizes Dodik’s announcement of his decision to award Russian President Vladimir Putin with the Order of Republika Srpska as part of Republika Srpska Day, “I advise[دوديك]Considering how to increase the distance between him and Putin and his war.” Use the phrase.

Schmidt continued:

January 9 is a burden borne by the victims of Srebrenica, and it was built on the victims. I can’t let this happen. Dodik, the President of the Republic of Serbia, is not only the President of the Serbs. He is the head of the multi-ethnic entity (RS) and Bosnians and Croats also live in Republika Srpska.

Schmidt also indicated that they, in their capacity as the international community, will take the necessary steps in this regard in the coming period, and that some ideas are already taking shape.

Medal of the Republika Srpska for Putin at the January 9 celebrations

Despite being unconstitutional, the “9 January RS Day” celebrations took place in eastern Sarajevo, near the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo.

Serbian member and Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željeka Švijanović and Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Affairs Nikola Selakovich and members of the Republika Srpska Police took part in the celebrations in eastern Sarajevo, which is part of the state entity Republika Srpska .

As part of the Republika Srpska Day celebrations, the “Republika Srpska Order” was presented to the “Republika Srpska Contributors”. It has developed and strengthened cooperation and political and friendly relations between the Republic of Serbia and Russia. I used this phrase.

Republika Srpska Day “unconstitutional”

Evaluating the legality of January 9, at the request of Bakir Izetbegović, head of the Democratic Action Party, the largest Bosniak party in the country, in 2015, the Constitutional Court ruled that celebrating the day was unconstitutional and said it was discrimination. Against non-Serbs living within the borders of the entity.

Dodik, known for his separatist rhetoric, held a referendum within the entity’s borders in 2016, and 99 percent of those who voted in the referendum voted to celebrate January 9 as Republika Srpska Day.

The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not recognize the referendum and banned procedures for celebrating this day.

AA