ŠPIRIĆ: SRPSKA IS PROTECTING DAYTON AGREEMENT AND CALLING FOR DIALOGUE

SARAJEVO, APRIL 7 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska, through its actions, protects the Dayton Peace Agreement, and there is not a security crisis in BiH, but a political one, the Speaker of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Nikola Špirić, said at a meeting in Sarajevo with a delegation of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.

At the meeting, which was attended by European parliamentarians Ondrej Kolar, Tineke Strik, and Antonio Tanger Correa, Špirić presented the position of Republika Srpska that the centralization of BiH had been carried out by violating the Dayton Agreement, and that Srpska is calling for talks on internal matters.

He added that the laws adopted by the Republika Srpska National Assembly comply with the Dayton Peace Agreement.

"Thirty years after the Dayton Agreement, we have the Office of the High Representative and the right of an individual to be above the Parliament, the Presidency, the Council of Ministers in BiH... This individual can suspend the Constitution for one day to change the Criminal Code and suppress democratic processes in this country. This has led to a great degree of political parasitism and the approach of one people – 'the state is us,' because they do not want dialogue, waiting for a solution from outside," emphasized Špirić.

He added that another issue is the Constitutional Court of BiH, which has three foreigners, even 30 years after the signing of the Dayton Agreement.

"With three foreigners in that court, they create new solutions, instead of interpreting the Constitution. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaks with the voice of one person, which is completely unconstitutional. Political dissatisfaction is also present when it comes to the equality of the constituent nations, as the Croats are demanding changes to the Electoral Law. All these parliamentary halls are empty every day because no one wants to talk. That is why I support Republika Srpska's call for dialogue," said Špirić.

He emphasized that the actions of the institutions of Republika Srpska are a call for dialogue, not, as some see it, a call for secession, because there are no arguments for that, nor has anyone relevant assessed that there is a security threat, not even the "Althea" Mission in its reports.

"We from Republika Srpska have always looked for someone to talk with here, not at other addresses, and the call from Banja Luka is not a call for secession or the destruction of territorial integrity; it is much more state-building than those who do not know what the solution is," added Špirić.

He told European parliamentarians that their mission is to strengthen dialogue within the country and that there is no ideal solution outside of BiH.

Regarding the announcements of forming a new coalition at the level of BiH with opposition parties from Republika Srpska, allegedly to accelerate the EU path, Špirić said that there is neither electoral will nor procedural basis for that.

"All European laws in this parliament were proposed and supported by representatives of the HDZ and SNSD. Of the 12 laws, those in the opposition were against ten, and suddenly, Europeanism awakened when it came to entering government, and they voted for two in the end," said Špirić.

In response to Strik's statement that EUFOR should be involved as support for domestic institutions, and that she would fully support the new coalition with opposition parties from Republika Srpska, Špirić said that anyone who thinks of supporting a new, unconstitutional, and procedurally improper coalition must take responsibility. He also emphasized that internal agreements should be given a chance, rather than standing behind someone.

Kolar, who is the rapporteur for BiH, thanked for the honesty and open conversation and agreed that internal dialogue is necessary.

The meeting, where the report on BiH's progress in light of the current political situation was discussed, was also attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Denis Zvizdić, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Kemal Ademović, says a press release from the office of the Speaker of the House of Peoples.