The Speaker of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Nenad Stevandić, stated that agreement is the only solution for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the disregard for this principle is the reason behind the constitutional crisis, as some attempt to impose solutions by force.
Stevandić pointed out that the best illustration of this is the self-proclaimed High Representative and those who support him, which makes it somewhat contradictory when the EU calls for internal agreement while at the same time backing Christian Schmidt, who violates that very principle and convinces Bosniaks that agreement is not necessary.
“The light at the end of the tunnel now comes from America, which insists that agreement is the only solution, that no one can impose anything—neither obligations nor constitutional changes—nor demand respect for something that only one side wants,” Stevandić told Srna.
He emphasized that no side can dictate to another who may represent it, and that this is currently the core issue and the trap being set by Schmidt.
“Nowhere in the world has the opposition ever represented a state in negotiations, especially when it is willing to sacrifice national status for representational status. Instead, it is always the legitimately elected institutions and authorities that represent a country,” Stevandić said.
He noted that in Republika Srpska, there are efforts to make an alternative political force negotiate on behalf of those chosen by the people, even though this alternative lacks electoral legitimacy.
“I fully agree with the U.S. assessment—it aligns with a new global political approach that insists on dialogue. The only exception to that principle right now is BiH, where they are being convinced that we should be condemned in order to prevent us from being participants in negotiations,” Stevandić concluded for Srna.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized in his remarks on BiH at the NATO summit in Dayton that agreements must be respected, that the United States is willing to work with all sides in BiH, and that it wishes to assist.
“We are willing to listen and work with all involved parties. Agreements must be firmly respected, but you must be flexible and adapt to changing times,” said Landau.
Source: RTRS
