Republika Srpska urges UN members to recognise Kosovo

Most in the highest legislative body of the Serbian entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina is led by Milorad Dodik's Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, who is also president of the Republika Srpska.

Dodik rejects Kosovo's independence and has close reports with officials in the Kremlin and Belgrade.

Because of opposition by political representatives from Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina has still not recognised Kosovo's independence, and both states apply visa regimes for citizens of respective countries.

What is said in the text of the resolution?

The resolution text supports Serbia's right “to protect territorial integrity and sovereignty, guaranteed by international law” and UN Resolution 1244.

The resolution was proposed by Nenad Stevahah, president of the Republika Srpska Parliament, simultaneously chairman of the United Srpska party, which is in coalition with Dodik's party.

The text says that Republika Srpska “condemns the terrorist activities of Kosovo Albanians and their authorities, which pose a threat to international peace and security”.

In addition to the resolution, conclusions were adopted through which Republika Srpska invites states, UN members, the Council of Europe and the European Union, who recognise Kosovo's independence, to review their decision and attract recognition of Kosovo.

The Republika Srpska Parliament has also called for representatives of this entity, which are in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to initiate making decisions that “would condemn violations of human rights and freedoms and continued ethnic cleansing of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija by Kosovo Albanians and their authorities”.

Parliament said it would submit conclusions to the General Assembly and to the UN Security Council, to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and to the European Parliament.

Resolution and conclusions were supported by opposition parties in Republika Srpska.

The issue was proposed to be placed in the Republika Srpska Parliament agenda following increasing tensions in northern Kosovo, inhabited by Serb majority.

In Leposaviq, Zvecan and Zubin Potok municipality in northern Kosovo -- inhabited by Serb majority -- the security situation has deteriorated since May 26th, when Albanian mayors of municipalities have officially taken office, despite the resistance of local residents.

Local Serbs in these three municipalities have since staged protests in front of municipal buildings.

Violence culminated on May 29th, when local Serbs clashed with NATO mission members in Kosovo, KFOR, and dozens of people on both sides were injured in the clashes.

The April 23rd elections, out of which these Albanian leaders have emerged, have been boycotted by the Serb community.