Any attempt to undermine Bosnia’s state institution or violate the Dayton Peace Agreement by Republika Srpska (RS) entity or any other lower-level administrative unit would provoke a timely and adequate response from the United States, US Embassy told N1 when asked to comment on the RS President Milorad Dodik’s announcement on Wednesday that the RS National Assembly would adopt a law that takes away the BiH election watchdog’s competence in the territory of that entity.

“For years, civil society organizations and voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including BiH’s international partners, have been pointing out shortcomings in the integrity of the electoral process in BiH. The United States of America, as well as many of its international partners, are calling and urging local political leaders to respond to the concerns of BiH citizens who are losing faith in their democracy by adopting the law on the integrity of the electoral process.” US Embassy said at the beginning of their statement to N1.

They recalled that they even organised talks between BiH political leaders aimed at reaching an agreement regarding the improvement of the election process and legitimacy but to no avail.

“Unfortunately, the political parties failed to fulfil even the basic responsibility they have towards the voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina: to ensure elections in a future, free and democratic country. All voters deserve confidence that their ballots will be counted as they are filled out,” the Embassy said.

Dodik’s statements not surprising

“Mr Dodik's statement regarding the electoral integrity package emphasizes that he and his party are not interested in protecting the rights of voters in BiH, including voters in the RS, to free and fair elections. On the one hand, this is not surprising given the pervasive fraud in connection with the 2022 elections for the President of Republika Srpska, which in some circles raised questions about the legitimacy of the confirmed outcome. This is also in line with Mr. Dodik's efforts to deny RS residents other basic rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly,” the embassy pointed out, warning:

“Any attempt to illegally usurp any state jurisdiction by the RS or other lower administrative units would be a violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United States has made it clear that it is ready to respond to the anti-Dayton and unconstitutional actions of domestic actors, and that it will support the High Representative's actions with the same goal.”

The Embassy expressed hope that other international friends of BiH would do the same, adding that they would not speculate on the type of actions their government might take in response to such threats.

As always, they concluded, the US would respond in a time and manner of its choosing.