The international peace envoy in Bosnia and Herzegovina condemned the latest attempts by the ruling coalition in Bosnia's Republika Srpska (RS) entity to, as it was stressed, “undermine the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to hamstring its key institutions,” calling such attacks on the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina a “serious violation” of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) and, consequently, peace and stability itself.

The response comes days after the authorities in Bosnia's Serb-majority entity set a deadline to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to annul its latest decision which regulates the postponement of its sessions i.e. annuls such a possibility, threatening that authorities of the Serb-majority region would pass a law on non-implementation of the state-level court's decision on this entity's territory.

A day later, the entity parliament passed law changes banning the publication of the High Representative's decisions in RS Official Gazette.

“The RS’ political pressure on the BiH Constitutional Court is unconstitutional and without legal merit. The Court is the ultimate arbiter of the BiH Constitution. The entities have no right or authority to blackmail it or control its operations,” said the Office of the High Representative (OHR).

Embassies condemn adoption of recent law in RS, call it ‘unconstitutional’

It urged the return to adherence to constitutional obligations in this regard, and the swift appointment of judges to the BiH Constitutional Court.

“Furthermore, the recent vote in the RS National Assembly (RSNA), attempting to prevent the publication of the High Representative’s decisions in the RS Official Gazette, clearly disregards the GFAP. Under Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legal framework, all decisions taken by the High Representative are binding and as such shall be published in the official gazettes,” said the envoy's office, adding that the failure to do so represents a violation of the Agreement and is moreover ineffective.

In addition, it stressed, Annex 10 of the GFAP obliges all signatories, including the RS, to fully cooperate with the High Representative and the recent decisions of the RSNA “in no way relieve Republika Srpska of these obligations.”

“Those officials who disregard their legal duties and obligations bear personal responsibility for such decisions and the consequences of these decisions,” said the OHR.

It underlined that the latest moves by the RS set a #dangerous precedent and will not deliver greater prosperity, stability, and progress on the Euro-Atlantic path. The High Representative will remain committed to defending the implementation of the GFAP.”