The embassies of the US and the UK welcomed the decisions passed on Saturday by international peace envoy Christian Schmidt, annulling the recently adopted laws in Bosnia's Republika Srpska entity, calling them "unconstitutional" and "clear and blatant attempt to challenge the framework and stability of this country."

“The Republika Srpska National Assembly’s decisions to adopt legislation on Non-Enforcement of the Decisions of the BiH Constitutional Court and amend the RS Law on Publishing Laws and Other Regulations were unconstitutional and deliberate attacks on the Dayton Peace Agreement, BiH’s constitutional order, and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the US embassy tweeted, shortly after the High Representative announced his decisions.

It said that this assault came with consequences.

“The United States strongly welcomes the High Representative’s use of his Bonn Powers to defend the Dayton Peace Agreement and protect the BiH Constitutional Court, which is a guardian of the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” it was emphasised.

Schmidt annuls two recently adopted Republika Srpska laws

The embassy reaffirmed the US support to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multiethnic character of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressing that it “will continue to hold individuals engaged in anti-Dayton behavior responsible for their actions.”

UK Ambassador Julian Reilly said in a tweet that the UK welcomes and “fully supports” the High Representative's actions to “prevent this legislation from entering into force and to tighten the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina to give the relevant law enforcement and judicial authorities the tools to address attempts to undermine the constitutional order.”

“The action taken by Republika Srpska authorities is a clear and blatant attempt to challenge the framework and stability of this country. All politicians and officials should be under no illusion that this behaviour is illegal, anti-constitutional and unacceptable.”