Dodik again threatens division of Republika Srpska

“We are seriously considering making a decision on the independence and secession of the Republika Srpska [from Bosnia], unless the property issue is resolved”, Dodik said.

He made comments in Belgrade, where he was hosted by Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq.

Republika Srpska has tried several times to implement a property law envisioning the transfer of Bosnia's state property to Republika Srpska despite being considered unconstitutional.

The law represents a direct challenge to earlier decisions by the international high representative in Bosnia, Christian Schmidt, to abolish the decree that the law has created and suspend it until a final decision by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia.

Republika Srpska says the law aims to ensure that property used by authorities of this entity, including local governments, public companies, public institutions and other departments founded by Republika Srpska tou belong to them.

The Bosnian Constitutional Court has declared that the country's Parliament must pass a property law that would be valid throughout Bosnia, not just in one of the country's two entities.

The 1995 Dayton Agreement, which has ended the civil war in Bosnia, has created an administrative system under which Bosnia remains divided between the Serbian entity HINA Republika Srpska ♫ and the Bosniak-Croatian Federation.

Dodik, who has been sanctioned by the US and Britain for efforts to destabilise and corruption, has repeatedly threatened to seek Republika Srpska's independence from the rest of Bosnia.

He rejects the administrative regulation of this country and the authority of the Office of the International High Representative, which oversees the civilian and other aspects of the Dayton Agreement.