NATO PA in Dayton warns against destabilisation in Bosnia

The Declaration expressed deep concern over recent legislative initiatives and policies coming from the Republika Srpska entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, warning that these actions threaten the country’s constitutional order, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as the Dayton Peace Agreement signed three decades ago.

Serbia submitted an amendment seeking to remove the reference to Republika Srpska, but the proposal was rejected. Following the vote, NATO Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Agnes Vadai voiced her strong support for a sovereign and unified Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In a joint statement, U.S. Congressman Michael R. Turner — Chair of the U.S. Delegation to the NATO PA — and Assembly President Marcos Perestrello addressed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, calling out destabilising forces in the country.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina is at a critical crossroads. We are deeply concerned by the secessionist rhetoric and actions emanating from Republika Srpska, which jeopardise the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional framework,” they stated.

They praised the firm and unified stance of the United States and European leaders in strongly condemning such dangerous and destabilising behaviour, stressing the importance of preventing any security vacuum in the region.

“A return to instability and violence is not an option. We urge all political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage in good-faith, constructive dialogue, with full respect for the Constitution. Upholding the rule of law, advancing necessary reforms, and strengthening the cohesion of the country and the integrity of its institutions are vital steps toward achieving Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” the joint statement emphasised.

The session in Dayton, held from May 22 to 26, gathered more than 1,000 participants, including current and former diplomats. The location held special symbolic weight as the site where the peace accord for Bosnia and Herzegovina was negotiated and initialed in 1995.