KALUŽA: US FULLY AWARE THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE OHR TO EXIST

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 31 /SRNA/ - The United States is fully aware that, following the elections in BiH and given the capacities acquired by political structures within BiH, there is no longer any purpose or need for the Office of the High Representative /OHR/ to exist, international relations expert Luciano Kaluža told SRNA.

Kaluža believes that US Representative Tammy Bruce's remarks at the UN Security Council further clarified the possibility of closing the OHR in BiH once the new authorities are formed.

"It was clearly stated that once the authorities in BiH are established, that is, once the institutions of the BiH Presidency, the Council of Ministers and others are formed, the OHR will definitely lose any reason to continue existing," Kaluža told SRNA.

He reminded that the institution of the High Representative, established under the Dayton Peace Agreement, was tasked with overseeing the civilian implementation of the agreement.

"It is evident that the United States is fully aware that, following the elections in BiH and given the capacities acquired by political structures within BiH, there is absolutely no purpose or need for the Office of the High Representative to continue to exist," Kaluža pointed out.

According to him, it was stated at the UN Security Council meeting that, following the elections, leaders in BiH have full authority to proceed as quickly as possible with forming the authorities and establishing institutions as defined by the Constitution.

“The key word is leaders. If we consider this in the context of Republika Srpska, we know who they are and who must be engaged in talks and negotiations. This includes President Milorad Dodik, meaning that it was indirectly stated that talks must be held with him,” Kaluža explained.

He said that Bosniak political parties in Sarajevo must finally realize that the policy of blockades and isolation they have pursued has no support whatsoever, particularly from the United States.

Commenting on Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya's remarks, Kaluža said that the Russian diplomat consistently supports the positions of Republika Srpska.

“The Russian ambassador is saying it as it is: Republika Srpska is not the problem under the Dayton Peace Agreement, but rather advocates for the genuine implementation of that agreement as it was written, not as it has been interpreted over the years since it was signed,” Kaluža stressed.

He added that the main message from the UN Security Council meeting was that Russia and the United States are on the same page, namely that full technical functionality of BiH must be restored under the authority of the leaders of the political structures who received a mandate in the most recent elections in BiH.

“Republika Srpska was punished for its position that talks should be held within BiH, without foreign representatives interfering in their agreements, and that is the paradox. Now this is coming full circle in the form of the US position, which says: You must talk among yourselves, and the way you conduct talks within BiH will, in fact, determine how the OHR will be shut down,” Kaluža concluded.