SNSD spokesperson Radovan Kovačević said he was surprised by a statement made by People and Justice (NiP) leader Elmedin Konaković, who said that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions had been strengthened to confront statements made by Serb and Croat political leaders.
According to Kovačević, such remarks amount to an open admission that judicial institutions are under political control and are being used to prosecute democratically elected Serb and Croat representatives.
“They have openly told us that they control the judicial institutions so they can confront and subordinate the Serbs and the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Kovačević said.
He described the statement as scandalous and said it should prompt a public response.
“What institutions have they strengthened, and for what purpose? What statements have SNSD leader Milorad Dodik and HDZ BiH leader Dragan Čović made that threaten anyone? They have said they support cooperation between the Serb and Croat constituent peoples, not against the third constituent people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dodik said he respects the constituent status of the Croat people in the same way he respects that of the Bosniak and Serb peoples. What is there to condemn? Anyone who respects the Dayton Peace Agreement should welcome such a position,” Kovačević said.
He argued that the problem lies in the fact that Bosniak political parties, in his view, do not respect the Dayton Peace Agreement but instead seek a Bosnia and Herzegovina governed exclusively by Bosniak political representatives.
“The problem is that the alliance between SNSD and HDZ BiH has told them to abandon that idea. That is why they are reacting in this way,” he added.
Kovačević also referred to statements by Dodik and Čović supporting the creation of an electoral constituency for the election of the Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Why is that necessary? Because the three constituent peoples must be equal and all of them must have the right to elect their own representatives. They reject that proposal and claim it undermines the system while arguing instead for proportional representation. We have been listening to that argument for far too long,” he said.
Kovačević argued that the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not establish proportional representation but rather equality among the three constituent peoples.
“They believe that because one group is more numerous, it should also have greater representation in the institutions. They can forget about that,” he said.
He maintained that such an approach is contrary to the Dayton Peace Agreement.
“Equality of the three constituent peoples must be ensured. The decisions imposed by all High Representatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina must be annulled. Democratically elected representatives of the peoples and citizens must assume responsibility for the country. That is the only way Bosnia and Herzegovina can survive. If they want the country to survive, we have offered a platform for dialogue and agreement. If they do not, then that is their choice,” Kovačević concluded.
Source: RTRS
