Bosnia’s Security Minister ordered the Border Police to not implement the latest decision by authorities in the Serb-majority semi-autonomous region which allows farmers who own agricultural land near the Drina river to cross the border with Serbia in order to work in their fields.

The decision was adopted at a session of the Republika Srpska (RS) Headquarters for Emergency Situations on Wednesday.  

“The issue of the border is exclusively under the competency of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Minister Fahrudin Radoncic said, referring to the county’s government.  

He also criticised Serbia’s Government, saying it was “unacceptable” that the neighbouring country did not inform Bosnia’s security and foreign affairs ministries about its intention to open some border crossings, but directly dealt with the Centre in the town of Trebinje about it.  

“If this request from Republika Srpska is officially submitted to Bosnia’s Security Ministry, it will be considered and, if the opinion is positive, it will be sent to Bosnia’s Council of Ministers to decide,” he said.

“The Government of the Republic of Serbia must also first send a note regarding its intention to Bosnia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, which will forward it to the Security Ministry for further procedure,” he added.

Radoncic stressed that there can be no compromise regarding border issues and that all must be done according to law and in a spirit of good neighbourly relations, with complete respect for Bosnia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.