AGREEMENT ONLY SOLUTION FOR BiH

BANJA LUKA, MAY 24 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić has told SRNA that agreement is the only solution for BiH and that the failure to respect this principle is the reason for the constitutional crisis, as some seek to impose solutions by force.

Stevandić stated that the clearest example of this issue is the self-proclaimed High Representative and those who support him, which is why it sometimes sounds strange to hear EU messages for internal agreement while simultaneously supporting Christian Schmidt, who violates the principle of internal agreement and convinces Bosniaks that such an agreement is unnecessary.

"A light at the end of the tunnel now comes from the United States, which has made it clear that agreement is the only solution, that no one can impose anything - not obligations, not constitutional amendments, nor demand adherence to something one side wants," Stevandić told SRNA.

He asserted that no side can dictate to another who should represent it, which is the main problem and the trap currently being laid by Schmidt.

"Nowhere in the world has any country been represented in negotiations by the opposition, especially one ready to sacrifice national interests for that representative status. Negotiations are conducted by legitimately elected bodies and government," said Stevandić.

He noted that in Republika Srpska, efforts are being made to enable an alternative to negotiate on behalf of those elected by the people, even though that alternative lacks electoral legitimacy.

"I fully agree with the U.S. position, which aligns with a new global policy that insists on negotiation. The only deviation from this principle is currently happening in BiH, where they are being convinced that we should be condemned so we’re excluded from negotiations," Stevandić concluded.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized in his speech about BiH at the NATO session in Dayton that agreements must be respected, and that the U.S. is willing to work with all sides in BiH and wants to help.

"We are willing to listen and work with all involved parties. Agreements must be firmly respected, but you must also be flexible and adapt to changing times," said Landau.