Republika Srpska has a Decision on the adoption of a new Constitution, which was supported by the ruling majority. Previously, SIPA assessed that in the case arrest warrant for Dodik, Višković and Stevandić is dealing with a high-risk operation, reports Deutsche says.
The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) denied allegations by some media that the police agency refused to carry out the order of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which demands the arrest of the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Višković and the President of the Entity Assembly Nenad Stevandić, who are accused of having committed the criminal offense of attacking the constitutional order.
"SIPA did not refuse to assist the judicial police in implementing the order of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH", SIPA said, adding that they are aware of the public's interest, but that the evaluation of the police agencies is ongoing, and that due to the high-risk situation, it is not possible to give detailed explanations. The Minister of Justice in the Council of Ministers of BiH, Davor Bunoza (HDZ BiH), learned about possible problems in the implementation of orders from the media.
The breakup of Yugoslavia
"Help was requested by SIPA, but now I have learned from the media that this help will not be provided." I am in favor of respecting the law, but the law prescribes that people's health should also be taken care of. I don't want anyone to be in danger. I hope we can find a solution. "The judicial police will work in accordance with the legal regulations," Bunoza said. His party leader Dragan Čović also gave support to the judicial institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For now, it is not known what the agency is doing, nor whether they will seek the assistance of the MUP of the RS, from where they say that Dodik, Višković and Stevandić have full protection from the MUP.
"These institutions cannot, will not and must not operate on the territory of Republika Srpska." "No one will be arrested and everyone will be protected," said RS Minister of the Interior Siniša Karan.
"The indictment is politically motivated and none of us will respond to the Prosecutor's Office," the authorities in the RS said. They remind that the action of SIPA on the territory of the RS is prevented by the laws recently adopted by the National Assembly.
"I have confidence in the police of Republika Srpska. The next target would be the police, property, and then the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church. I am convinced that in a few months the actual situation on the ground will look like when Yugoslavia fell apart", warned Dodik, expressing his belief that SIPA will not act.
"I would not recommend SIPA to act." And I believe it won't. "Today is a solemn day, because today we are changing the Constitution of the Republic of Srpska," said Dodik.
Indeed, the deputies of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska adopted late last night the Decision to proceed with the adoption of the new Entity Constitution, which officially began the procedure for the adoption of the highest legal act. Despite the warning of international representatives not to proceed with this procedure, because, as they stated, it violates the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Final Decision for Brčko District, the decision was adopted by a simple majority of 50 deputies. MPs from the SDA-Bh parliamentary group were against it. green, while the opposition did not even vote, which is why they received the epithet of traitors from the authorities.
Geese in the fog
"No one attacked the Republika Srpska, no one is stealing our property, no one is stealing the police, no one is stealing the Tax Administration, no one is stealing the media... any institution. We are looking for bread through a loaf of bread. It's a process that is being conducted against one person," said Nebojsa Vukanović, member of the List for Justice and Order, who has been warning the ruling coalition for days not to get involved in this process, because it could bring the Republika Srpska into question.
"You rush like geese in the fog from one mistake to another." You will cause catastrophic consequences, come to your senses," warns Vukanović.
This is also being warned by the OHR, from where they called on the members of the National Assembly to prevent an attack on the country's constitutional order.
"All delegates in the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska and the Council of the People of the Republika Srpska should be aware that this process represents a serious threat." They must do their personal duty and repel this attack on the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the multi-ethnic character of Republika Srpska," said the Office of the High Representative, warning that the draft of the new constitution is a clear violation of both the General Framework Agreement for Peace and the Final Arbitration Decision for Brčko and essentially puts them at risk.
"We are facing a significant political and legal moment for the Republika Srpska", began the introductory presentation in the National Assembly of the Minister of Justice Miloša Bukejlović, emphasizing that the Decision on the initiation of the process of adoption of the new Constitution represents a step towards improving the constitutional order.
"The adoption of the new Constitution of the RS is first of all necessary to ensure legal certainty, the efficiency of institutions and the preservation of the constitutional competences of the RS, and in accordance with its position as defined by the Dayton Agreement and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Bukejlović, who, together with the political leadership of the RS, is on the US OFAC's blacklist of sanctions.
The army, the Council of the People, the state of the Serbian people
Before the public discussion, it is necessary to adopt the draft of the new constitution, which is on the agenda today (March 13), for the passage of which a simple majority is required, while only the form of the proposal will require two-thirds support. It is speculated that this support has already been secured from the ranks of the opposition with two MPs.
And the working version of the new Constitution caused strong reactions in the domestic and international public, because some provisions are in contradiction with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially those related to the possibility of establishing an army and the abolition of the People's Council, as well as the definition of Republika Srpska as the state of the Serbian people.
The majority of lawyers, including the majority from the RS, agree that there are many shortcomings in the working version of the Draft of the new Constitution, as well as the fact that some provisions are in direct contradiction with the Constitution of BiH.
"I am looking at the working version of the new constitution of the Republika Srpska, according to which (Article 9) only the Republika Srpska would decide on association with a group of states, which it also associates with the European Union, which would mean that Milorad Dodik now in 2025 wants only the Republika Srpska to decide and be responsible for the negotiation, adoption and implementation of the laws necessary to fulfill the so-called European standards and entry into the EU", wrote the former judge and professor of Constitutional Law, Milan Blagojević.
The Bosniaks in the National Assembly, gathered around the SDA-BH Green Parliamentary Group, which consists of seven MPs, also warn against the new constitution. We do not think that conditions have been created, nor is there a need to change the existing Constitution, says MP Ramiz Salkić (SDA), expressing understanding for those who want to implement these changes.
"Because they do not want to implement what is written in the Constitution, which is that Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats have equal rights in this entity." And that they should be represented in accordance with the 1991 census. That they should have equal rights. You want to eliminate that. That's your policy. "Time will tell how far you will go," warns Salkić.
The Council of Peoples of the RS, which is practically the second house and which was established in 2003, by the decision of the then High Representative Wolfgang Petrich, is deleted from the new Constitution. The capital is Banja Luka, and the capital is Pale.
Eufor gets reinforcements
The presidency of the SDP strongly condemned the secessionist attempts of the Republika Srpska government, through the announced changes to the Constitution of the RS. The president of that party and the prime minister of the Federation, Nermin Nikšić, said that in such an atmosphere, no one can guarantee that individual incidents will not occur.
"I am deeply convinced that the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will not allow anyone to drag them into destabilization. It is better to fight the legal and political battle for as long as it takes, than to allow even the smallest security incident. Our history teaches us that nothing remains at the level of 'incident' here. That's why we need a cool head and common sense more than ever," said Nikšić, who supported the Troika parties' initiative to expel the SNSD from the executive and legislative power at the BiH level.
The Commander of the European Union Forces in BiH, Major General Florin Marian Barbu, said after the arrival of the new EUFOR forces in BiH that their activation is a "proactive measure aimed at providing assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the interest of all its inhabitants." He said that the arrival of soldiers and equipment from the Czech Republic, Italy and Romania is a strong and visible sign of EU unity and unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The arrival of the new Eufor forces was also welcomed by the head of the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luigi Sorek, who said that the new forces strengthened Altea's mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"The European Union will not lightly allow the progress achieved in recent years to be jeopardized due to the political crisis that has called into question the political functionality of Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent months. Your units are therefore invited to reinforce the EUFOR Altea Mission, which also sends a political message," said Soreka, noting that the European Union will do everything to preserve the positive developments that Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved on the European path.
