Bećirović: Serbia is obliged to respect the sovereignty of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina

(Patria) - The Constitution of BiH, which is an integral part of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, states that: "Entities have the right to establish parallel relations with neighboring countries, in accordance with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina" (Article III-2 (a), stated Denis Bećirović, member of the Presidency of BiH.

It clearly follows from the cited constitutional provision that parallel relations must be in accordance with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity of RS is obliged to consistently respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, just like neighboring Serbia.

The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina was signed by the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (legal successor Serbia), and the Republic of Croatia. These three countries have committed to fully respect "the sovereign equality of each other", as sovereign and independent states. It is time for the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, to stop avoiding the word sovereignty and start concretely respecting the sovereignty of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The content of the relations between Bosnian-Herzegovinian entities and neighboring countries can only arise from the competencies that the entities have. Therefore, these agreements cannot and must not encroach on the competencies of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The competencies of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in addition to those exhaustively listed in the Constitution of BiH, include additional competencies in accordance with Annexes 5-8, as well as competencies necessary to preserve the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and international subjectivity of the state (Article III.5). To this should be added those competencies that all sovereign states have and which are necessary for the implementation of the fifteen conventions and international agreements listed in Annex I of the Constitution of BiH.

Parallel relations of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity of RS should be understood as a supplement to the normal interstate relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, not as a replacement for them, or even worse, as an opportunity for their abuse. Only what remains unregulated in the interstate relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia can be regulated by the establishment of parallel relations by the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity of RS, with the prior consent of the highest legislative body of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH. Established parallel relations must not call into question the Constitution of BiH, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It is important to emphasize that agreements on parallel ties between the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity of RS and the neighboring country cannot be signed by representatives of the people, but according to the procedure regulated by the Constitution, by the competent bodies of the entity. Also, it should be borne in mind that Bosnian-Herzegovinian entities are not mono-ethnic, but multi-ethnic, regardless of their name.

The preservation and affirmation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the functioning of the state institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina are the best protection for citizens and peoples. The Dayton Peace Agreement consists not only of rights, but also of obligations to implement it in its entirety, not just those points of this agreement that suit someone.

It is time to act responsibly in the interest of building a more secure future for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and developing good neighborly relations between these two countries, on the foundations of international law", stated Bećirović.