The draft declaration on the protection of the vital national interest of the Serb people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will be discussed tomorrow at a special session of the National Assembly, points to the need to restore Republika Srpska’s Dayton competences through parliamentary procedures at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the annulment of a series of decisions imposed by High Representatives.
As stated in the text of the draft, this refers to decisions by which powers were taken away from Republika Srpska outside the Constitution and the law, with the wholehearted support of part of the international community and unitarist forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is emphasized that this ultimately also implies the termination of the mandate of the Office of the High Representative and the High Representative, and a turn toward dialogue and political agreement among all relevant political actors on the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The National Assembly of Republika Srpska stresses the importance of defending the democratically elected institutions of Republika Srpska from all attempts to reduce or abolish their competences and transfer them to the level of a unitary Bosnia and Herzegovina, contrary to the Constitutions of Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as verified by the Dayton Peace Agreement as an international treaty.
The National Assembly also recalls the importance of preventing all attempts to seize Republika Srpska’s property and transfer ownership and use of that property to the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In that regard, it says legal provisions should be tightened and all abuses related to this vital national issue should be punished.
The protection of cultural and historical heritage, including monuments of national culture, language, script, Orthodox churches, Serb cemeteries and similar heritage from denial, appropriation and revision of historical facts in this area, is described as being of exceptional importance.
The goal, the text says, should be an economically sustainable and socially stable Republika Srpska in which all its parts develop equally, so that young people are given equal opportunities for a normal life and a clear future for themselves and their families if they remain in the communities where they were born and where they can have secure employment.
Stable economic development also implies the toughest possible fight against crime and corruption, especially in public enterprises and institutions, the draft declaration states.
The National Assembly calls for further deepening of cooperation with Serbia on the basis of the Agreement on Establishing Special Parallel Relations in the economic, cultural, educational, infrastructure, security and all other sectors.
“This cooperation is in no way directed against the other two peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina or against any neighboring country, but contributes to peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the draft states.
Its aim, it adds, is to further strengthen and consolidate the Serb national identity and to ensure that Republika Srpska and Serbia remain reliable guarantors of the survival of the Serb people in these historically turbulent Balkan areas.
The text states that the adoption of the declaration is an initiative of the “Creators of Republika Srpska” Association and the Veterans’ Organization of Republika Srpska.
The draft decision on adopting the Declaration on the Protection of the Vital National Interests of the Serb People in Bosnia and Herzegovina, under urgent procedure, is expected to be placed before lawmakers at tomorrow’s special session, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Source: RTRS
