IGK says RS entity offices abroad would undermine BiH foreign policy authority

According to IGK, such office would build a network of contacts, conduct lobbying activities and spread political messages abroad.

The organization has called on the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to examine whether the regulation establishing the office is in line with the Constitution of BiH and whether it infringes on the state’s jurisdiction, including the conduct of foreign policy.

“According to the Constitution of BiH, foreign policy is led by the Presidency of BiH, while decisions are implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH. Entities can develop international cooperation within their jurisdiction, but with the consent of the state,” IGK noted.

They warned that establishing an entity office that develops bilateral contacts without coordination with state institutions represents an attempt to conduct a parallel foreign policy and violates the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which they describe as paradiplomacy.

IGK also stated that it has previously warned about what it described as anti-constitutional and anti-state activities of RS entity representative offices located in Brussels, Moscow, Washington, Jerusalem, Vienna, Stuttgart, Belgrade and Shanghai. These offices formally operate in the fields of economy, culture and business cooperation, but, according to IGK, in practice lobby exclusively for entity interests.

“BiH remains increasingly powerless in the face of attacks by anti-Bosnian diplomats operating around the world. Milorad Dodik dominates important diplomatic destinations around the world, activates his lobbyists and subordinates his ambassadors to his separatist goals. The BiH embassies where Dodik’s ambassadors are stationed have become hotbeds of anti-Bosnian activity,” IGK said, referring to the now former president of the RS, who was removed from office and banned from political activities for six years, based on a court decision.