The Bosniak member of the tripartite Presidency said on Thursday that by attending the unconstitutional celebration of the Day of Republika Srpska on Wednesday, the Croatian ambassador to Bosnia has eliminated any possible future contact with him.
“The Ambassador has with his move yesterday eliminated himself from any future contact with me,” Sefik Dzaferovic said, strongly condemning Ivan DelVechio’s move.
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Bosnia's Constitutional Court banned the celebration the January 9 ‘Day of Republika Srpska’ holiday in Bosnia's Serb-dominated semi-autonomous entity, Republika Srpska (RS), in 2015. The reason stated was that the celebration falls on the same date as an Orthodox religious holiday, and celebrating it is, therefore, discriminating against non-Serbs.
The Court gave the RS Government six months to find a new date for the celebration but the request has so far been ignored.
The ceremony took place on Wednesday in Banja Luka, the administrative centre of the RS.
“Attending such an unconstitutional act means showing disrespect towards the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that is why I condemn it,” Dzaferovic said, pointing out that Croatia’s Government has already “made certain steps” regarding the visit.
At the request of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Croatia's Foreign Minister Marija Pejcinovic Buric called Del Vechio back to Zagreb on Thursday for consultations.
Dzaferovic said that he does not know what Croatia will do next.
“I know that I will initiate discussions and procedures on the subject in the Presidency,” he said.
The Chairman of Bosnia’s Council of Ministers, Denis Zvizdic, has earlier on Thursday also condemned Del Vechio’s attendance.
“With this, you have disabled any kind of personal contact or cooperation with me,” Zvizdic wrote on Twitter.
