PIC HAS NO LEGALITY OR LEGITIMITY, NEW HIGH REPRESENTATIVE CAN ONLY ACT AS MODERATOR

PALE, JUNE 2 /SRNA/ - Former President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Dragan Kalinić told SRNA on the eve of the session of the Peace Implementation Council /PIC/, where the appointment of a new high representative should be discussed, that the legality and legitimacy of this extra-Dayton creation, which has magically survived for years even though it has no basis in the Constitution of BiH, is disputed.

"It is also disputed from the point of view of legitimacy because Russia, as the guarantor and signatory of the agreement, and China, i.e. the two great powers, left the PIC a long time ago," Kalinić pointed out.

Kalinić believes that these days, everything looks like the race-mongering around the OHR and the high representative will continue in one way or another, because when it seemed that two steps forward were taken, events took a step back.

"Officials of Republika Srpska, especially after the resolution of the National Assembly on the abolition of the OHR, will rightly challenge his election until the UN Security Council confirms his appointment with a special resolution.

It is more than clear that the reduction of his self-proclaimed powers, which have led to continuous political and legal chaos in BiH, is being sought," Kalinić pointed out.

Kalinić mentioned that a limitation of the mandate of the high representative is also requested, preferably to one year, possibly to two, in order to implement the exit strategy for the OHR from BiH without imposing conditions from the EU.

"If we exclude the unrealistic aspirations of a part of Muslims-Bosniaks for a unitary state, it shows that the OHR, as well as the high representative, are no longer needed by the political representatives of all three nations, because the assumption is that they are able to get out of `political diapers` and start a normal life," Kalinić said.

When it comes to the present Serb representatives from the current government, says Kalinić, they have long since become politically mature and self-aware that they really don't need further tutelage anymore and that it insults their intelligence.

"I don't mean to offend, but I guess the other two nations are also able to get out of political puberty and finally grow up. This is a prerequisite for any rational conversation and eventual agreement of all those who live in this country - that only they, and not self-proclaimed foreigners, determine its future," Kalinic said.

He believes that in all of this, the most the new high representative can be is a moderator.

"And the best thing he can do and what he should do for the sake of peace and stability in this peaceful transition from a protectorate to a normal, democratic country is to cancel all unconstitutional and illegal decrees of previous high representatives, above all the foreigner who goes by the last name Schmidt, and to return to the original Dayton Peace Agreement," stressed Kalinić.

He believes that the current government in Republika Srpska is ready to contribute to this much-needed return to dialogue and agreement with all who constitute Dayton BiH.

"The condition is that no one blackmails or threatens us, because we will no longer agree to that and it simply does not go well with our people. This is our country, for whose independence, freedom and equality with other peoples, the best among us gave their lives for," Kalinić said.