Any statements questioning the legal status of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina as the single, united military force, are counterproductive for the maintenance of a safe and secure environment and any efforts on reconciliation and should be avoided, the European Delegation to Bosnia told N1 on Monday.
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who is also the Chairman of the tripartite Presidency, spoke at an event organised to mark the (wartime) Army of Republika Srpska (RS) and the Third Infantry Regiment in the northwestern city of Banja Luka on Sunday. There, he urged the Regiment, which is formally part of Bosnia's Armed Forces, to wear the uniforms of the Army of RS (VRS) at next year's ceremony.
The VRS was the wartime army of Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity which fought against Bosniak and Croat forces. It was abolished when Bosnia's leaders decided to merge all armed forces in Bosnia into one.
“The EU emphasises that the creation of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the right thing to do in support of Bosnia and Herzegovina's transition from war to peace and has contributed to the peace and stability of the country. The EU has unconditionally supported this process, and we are proud of the AFBiH's establishment and the role it has played in BiH as well in a number of international peace keeping missions,” the EU Delegation said in a statement.
The Delegation urged all political leaders in the country to refrain from divisive rhetoric and focus on the vital political and economic reforms.
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“Peace and stability are crucial for the country's moving forward on the EU accession path,” they said.
The Office of the High Representative (OHR) in the country, the international community's institution overseeing the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia, said the “Presidency Chairman's rhetoric is irresponsible, provocative and unacceptable, especially considering that Bosnia's Armed Forces are an important element to the country's stability, cohesion and security.”
As collective Commander in Chief, the tripartite Presidency and each of its members have the legal responsibility to ensure the functioning of Bosnia's Armed Forces, instead of denying them in any way, the OHR argued.
“The Presidency is obliged to support the full implementation of the Law on Defence which clearly states the obligations, competencies and behaviour of members of the Armed Forces,” the Office concluded.
