Minister of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska Siniša Karan stated to Srna that the announcement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, Elmedin Konaković, to seek the annulment of the Agreement on Police Cooperation between BiH and Serbia represents a direct attack on relations between the two countries. Karan emphasized that this statement confirms that Konaković is neither interested in fighting crime nor in building good diplomatic relations with regional countries.
Karan noted that BiH has almost identical police cooperation agreements with both Serbia and Croatia—one signed in 2010 and the other in 2011. However, Konaković sees a problem only with the one signed with Serbia, which Karan interprets as an indication of Konaković’s pathological hatred towards anything related to Serbia or labeled “Serbian.”
Karan explained that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska conducts international cooperation with Serbia based on the Constitution and the Law on Police and Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, not based on the Agreement on Police Cooperation between BiH and Serbia.
He emphasized that the Constitution of Republika Srpska clearly defines that the Republic ensures security and that entities have the right to establish special parallel relations with neighboring countries, in accordance with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH.
Additionally, Article 146 of the Law on Police and Internal Affairs stipulates that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska establishes direct international cooperation.
“Agreements and memoranda are there to elaborate on this cooperation. In this context, the Agreement on the Establishment of Special Parallel Relations between the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska clearly defines in Article 2 that Srpska and Serbia will particularly enhance cooperation in the areas of protecting freedoms and rights of citizens in accordance with the highest international standards and combating crime,” Karan stated.
He highlighted that, in line with this agreement, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska has signed several documents with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, including a Memorandum on Strengthening Police Cooperation, a Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Civil Protection, Prevention, and Management of Emergencies, an Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Information and Communication Technologies, a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Aviation, an Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, and the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies, and a Memorandum on Cooperation during Tourist Seasons.
“From all of this, it is clear that the Agreement on Police Cooperation between BiH and Serbia was unnecessary for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska,” Karan concluded.
According to him, the concept of police cooperation is based on the same foundations as in other countries in the region and Europe, with the main goal being the successful fight against crime, contributing to overall security.
“It is absurd that a person holding the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, whose primary function is to build bridges of cooperation and develop friendly relations, is attempting to dismantle existing ones and undermine the security system. Police cooperation, not only with Serbia but with all police forces worldwide, is crucial for a successful fight against crime. In this sense, I call on everyone to stop politicizing such matters for their personal interests,” Karan concluded.
Source: Glas Srpske
