15 minutes agoBosnian Serb Leader Pro-Resumes Secession Threat
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Bosnia and Herzegovina's separatist Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, reiterated on Monday the threat of secession of Republika Srpska, a week after general elections in the ethnically divided country showed his party continues to prevail among Serbs. Pro-rus leader Dodik caused the worst political crisis in post-war Bosnia last December, [...]
Pro-rus leader Dodik triggered the worst political crisis in post-war Bosnia last December, when he tried to get Republika Srpska out of major state institutions, such as judiciary, tax system and joint armed forces.
In the face of US and British sanctions, as well as increased international presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, prompted by fears that the war in Ukraine could spread in the Western Balkans, Dodik withdrew, saying at the time he was pushing but was not abandoning the plan.
At a press conference in Belgrade, Mr. Dodik turned to criticism of Bosnia's current structure, saying it was an dysfunctional state created by foreigners.
Under the Dayton Peace Accord that ended the 1992-1995 war, Bosnia was divided into two autonomous regions of Republika Srpska and the Federation divided between Croats and Bosniaks linked by a fragile government and national.
“We have created Republika Srpska as an independent state and have never recognised Bosnia as a joint state,” said Mr. Dodik, who held the positions of the president and prime minister of the region since 1998, as well as the country's Serb member's post in the country's tripartite presidency.
“Bosnja must go back to the constitution (original). If that is not possible, it must be dissolved,” said Dodik, Voa reported.
Dodik, who consistently emphasises his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, announced his party's victory at all levels of government, including the Serbian republic's presidential race.
He said he wanted to talk to Serbian media because some “have tried to question his victory. ”
A bloc of opposition parties has accused him of manipulation of presidential votes and has called for a recount. They held protests in the de facto Banja Luka region capital, where thousands of supporters participated.
Bosnia's election commission said it will review all calls for re-counting following final election results expected to be released in early November.
Dodik also said his legal team would try to challenge the international envoy's position for peace, Christian Schmidt, saying he had “usurped” working without the UN Security Council mandate.
