DODIK: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF BiH IS A PLACE OF INQUISITION AGAINST SERBS

PRNJAVOR, JULY 19 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik said that the Constitutional Court of BiH does not deserve to have Serb judges because it is an unconstitutional court and a place of inquisition against Serbs.

"That court is not a place where the Constitution of BiH, signed in Dayton as Annex 4, is interpreted and implemented on an equal basis. That annex was signed by Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH," Dodik told reporters at the Stuplje Monastery near Prnjavor.

He said that the National Assembly of Republika Srpska could appoint judges to the Constitutional Court of BiH once the foreign judges leave the court.

"In our own naivety, we allowed representatives elected by the National Assembly to serve on the Constitutional Court of BiH, even though they are unable to achieve anything there," Dodik said.

He said that this made sense until about ten years ago, before the Constitutional Court of BiH began to be instrumentalized and while its judges were at least somewhat objective.

"Later, it became clear that they were serving the idea of an Islamic state in this region, as envisioned by the SDA and Muslims in Sarajevo. They then aligned themselves with that agenda, with three Muslim judges and two foreign judges violating the Constitution countless times and assuming the role of constitution-makers, while claiming that the court included representatives of all constituent peoples, which was not true," Dodik said.

Dodik said that, since Annex 4 of the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed by Republika Srpska and the FBiH, the Constitution of BiH can only be amended at that level.

"It is stipulated that any amendment requiring an agreement at the level of BiH must also receive the consent of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska," Dodik said.

He recalled that delegations of the SNSD and the HDZ had reached an agreement that BiH could move forward only on condition that there is no High Representative, no Bonn powers, and that all decisions imposed by High Representatives be repealed.

"Some of those decisions could, if necessary, be confirmed by the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, while those that are not confirmed would be considered repealed. That is the Dayton principle and perhaps a way to save BiH, because I do not see any other way it can move forward," Dodik said.