Russia’s Embassy in Bosnia believes it was unnecessary for the body composed of ambassadors of countries overseeing Bosnia’s peace process to release a statement regarding the controversial speech Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik made on Sunday, according to a Wednesday press release.
Dodik, who is currently the Chairman of the tripartite Presidency, spoke at an event organised to honour the Army of Republika Srpska (RS) and the Third Infantry Regiment in the northwestern city of Banja Luka on Sunday. He urged the Regiment, which is formally part of Bosnia’s Armed Forces, to wear the uniforms of the Army of the RS at the ceremony next year.
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The Army of Republika Srpska was the wartime army of the Serb-dominated part of the country which fought against Bosniak and Croat forces. It disappeared when Bosnia’s leaders decided to melt all armed forces in Bosnia into one in 2005, which Dodik called a mistake.
Dodik's statements caused outrage among some politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina and his Croat colleague in the Presidency, Zeljko Komsic, filed criminal charges against him for attempting to incite a rebellion within the Armed Forces.
The Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), which is composed of ambassadors of countries which oversee the implementation of the agreement that ended the Bosnian war, released a statement saying it “unequivocally affirms” the armed force as a key element of stability.
“We support the full implementation of Bosnia's defence legislation, which clearly defines the chain of command, duties, responsibilities, and conduct of the members of the Bosnia's Armed Forces,” said the PIC statement.
The Council consists of representatives of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, the Presidency of the European Union, European Commission, and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, represented by Turkey.
But Russia’s Embassy did not join the statement.
“We would like to point out in regard to today’s statement by the ambassadors of the PIC Steering Board that the Russian Federation supports activities of the central bodies of BiH (Bosnia and Herzegovina) authorities based on the BiH Constitution and appropriate legislation, including the Armed Forces which, it is our deep belief, are not threatened by anything,” the the Embassy said later the same day.
