Controversial Visit in Ljubljana: Bosnia’s Nenad Stevandic meets Slovenian Parliament Speaker Zoran Stevanovic

The Office of the Speaker of the RS National Assembly announced that Stevandic and Stevanovic discussed regional relations and compliance with the Dayton Agreement, marking the first meeting between the parliamentary speakers of the Republika Srpska and Slovenia. During the discussions, Stevandic invited Stevanovic for an official visit to the RS National Assembly.

Ahead of the encounter, N1 Slovenia published that Stevandic, was visiting Stevanovic, describing him in the headline as a controversial guest from the RS. Other Slovenian media outlets also reported on the visit. The Necenzurirano portal reported that the meeting was not previously highlighted in the official schedule, noting that Stevandic is a close political ally of Milorad Dodik. The Slovenian newspaper Vecer also wrote about Stevandic's visit, citing claims from earlier reports and court proceedings regarding his wartime past, which are currently to be viewed as allegations made by the media and the sources they cite.

Following the meeting, Stevandic stated that they discussed the role of parliamentary diplomacy, regional relations, and the Dayton Agreement. Stevandic declared that parliamentary diplomacy serves as a mechanism preserving peace and security, adding that discussions covered the respect for the Dayton Agreement, which entails equal status for all in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the prevention of decisions enacted against any constituent people, and the reliance on consensus among peoples and entities. He also assessed that international representatives should not take sides in political relations within Bosnia, stating that crises emerge when international representatives choose sides.

Stevandic extended special gratitude to the Slovenian parliament speaker for understanding the policy pursued by the RS, expressing appreciation and requesting continued communication based on peace, equality, and good neighborly relations between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the RS, noting that the Serb community in Slovenia is well integrated into society and contributes greatly to the development and stabilization of Slovenia. Zoran Stevanovic has served as Slovenian Parliament Speaker since April of this year, when he was elected to the position with forty-eight votes as the leader of the Resni.ca party.