The President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Nenad Stevandić, dismissed claims about the existence of a working group for Srpska’s independence as an absolute lie. He reiterated that Republika Srpska will await the resolution of the dispute in the Bundestag before filing a lawsuit against Christian Schmidt in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
“There is no plan for secession, and there is no working group. That is a blatant lie. If such a group existed, there would be a document to prove it, but it’s all hearsay,” Stevandić said in an interview with Federal Television.
Responding to allegations from the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Stevandić claimed, “The information was fabricated, likely originating from Sarajevo. A working group would have a name, members, and documents. This is being used as a fabricated excuse to justify political moves.”
Geopolitical context and the role of Republika Srpska
Stevandić emphasized that Republika Srpska operates in compliance with the Dayton Agreement and the Constitution. He explained that sanctions imposed by the U.S. lack substantial justification and are based on fabricated allegations.
“There’s a geopolitical pendulum causing crises in key regions like Ukraine, Gaza, and the Balkans. Republika Srpska is a part of this unsettled landscape of unfinished states, like Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Stevandić said.
He added that shared values have not been established in BiH, preventing cohesion between its entities.
On Christian Schmidt and international recognition
Stevandić reiterated Republika Srpska’s position that Christian Schmidt is not a legitimate high representative.
“He’s a self-proclaimed figure. Republika Srpska has a dispute in the Bundestag about Schmidt’s legitimacy. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that the support of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) was sufficient for Schmidt, but we are pursuing this matter through German and international legal channels,” Stevandić explained.
He added that Schmidt’s actions have distanced BiH from EU integration. “No EU member state allows laws to be imposed by a foreign appointee without international legitimacy. His actions undermine the state-building process,” Stevandić said.
Final remarks
Addressing political Sarajevo, Stevandić said, “You force us into the Middle Ages, with a figure like Schmidt dictating how we live, what birthdays we celebrate, and what decisions we make. For you, he’s the high representative; for us, he’s a low-level appointee without international recognition.”
He concluded that Republika Srpska will await the resolution of the Bundestag dispute before escalating the matter to Strasbourg, confident in its legal position.
Source: Glas Srpske
