Russia, the leadership of Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity Republika Srpska (RS) and newly elected Serb member of Bosnia's tripartite Presidency, are among the most coherent protectors of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA), which confirms sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“We advocate together the equality of all three constituent peoples, constituent status and broad competencies of both entities, Republika Srpska and Federation (FBiH),” Lavrov told Serbian daily newspaper Srpski Telegraf.

The Dayton treaty, which ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war, divided the country into two semi-autonomous entities, FBiH, which is shared by the Bosniaks and the Croats, and the Serb-dominated RS.

To oversee the agreement's implementation, the international community appointed a high representative whose office is still active in the country. The conditions to close the office down, according to its main body, the Peace Implementation Council, have not been met.

A “chronic disagreement” among the main political parties, the Council said, produced a gridlock that has prevented the full implementation of the necessary conditions.

Lavrov recalled that, according to the Constitution, Bosnia's three constituent peoples are proportionally represented in the system of state administration but, he added, Bosnia is in reality governed through the international community's high representative.

“We are convinced it is necessary to transfer the responsibility for everything that is happening in the country to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in line with their competencies,” said Russia's official.

Russia is also represented in the PIC Steering Board through its ambassador in Bosnia. In the regular sessions assessing the situation in the country, Russia never joins this body's conclusion which says the conditions to close the high representative's office have not been met.

During his official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina in September this year, Lavrov reiterated support of his country to Bosnia's territorial integrity and constitutional order.