Dodik revealed his separatist cards and "disarmed" us of Dayton: Time for a civic RBiH Constitution adapted to the times!

By: Rasim Belko @rasimbelko

The reaction to the latest moves by Serb politics led by Milorad Dodik, accusing him of attacking peace, is completely wrong. Because what they have repeatedly told us since 1995 is a lie that Dayton brought peace, so we thought it was true, is for other analyses, but peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina has not materialized.

The war has only continued by other means, both political and violent. Ask Bosniaks and Croats in RS how much they can enjoy the Dayton peace, how much Bosniaks and Serbs in the far south enjoy the Dayton peace…

No, Dodik did not attack peace, because for three decades it has been an imagination here only because explosions of Serb artillery are not echoing in Sarajevo.

By the act of secession, Dodik attacked the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina as Annex IV of that agreement. Therefore, reactions to Dodik's secession must not be шаблонные ( шаблонные - template-like/clichéd) like the story about attacking peace, or reporting to judicial bodies.

The response of state-building politics must be clear and unambiguous - by attacking Dayton, Milorad Dodik has sealed the fate of that peace agreement and largely paved the way for us to try to free ourselves from this straitjacket.

And since Dodik has already killed Dayton, then the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as its integral part, cannot remain in effect.

When the Assembly of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Dayton Peace Agreement, a clause was included that in case of non-implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, it would revert to the Constitution of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e., the Constitution from 1974 with amendments from 1990.

Dayton has been seriously undermined, not exclusively due to Dodik's merit, but he has contributed the most. The secession document envisages entities becoming two mini-states with full territorial and political sovereignty. In translation, this is the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e., abandoning the peace agreement.

Returning to the Constitution of the Republic or its modified version is not a trivial or easy task. But, if Milorad Dodik has become so emboldened that he is institutionally moving towards secession, which means the disappearance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, then no party that builds its politics on statehood should have an excuse that, for one reason or another, returning to the RBiH Constitution is not possible. Because the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is internationally recognized as an independent state and admitted to the UN with such a Constitution.

Therefore, parties that consider themselves state-building should not act reactively, but with a well-thought-out strategy and agenda, they should move towards modernizing the RBiH Constitution, which must be adapted to the times and incorporated into the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Undoubtedly, the first question will be "what about Serb and Croat politics". But the answer simply suggests itself, the same as they do with us. Because those politics have no problem introducing anti-state and anti-democratic proposals and processes into state institutions. So why would it be a problem for state-building parties to introduce proposals that, by all parameters, would mark a turning point on BiH's integration path towards the EU and NATO, but also permanently thwart the possibility of Belgrade and Zagreb holding Bosnia and Herzegovina hostage and headless through political pawns in state institutions.

Dodik has cornered himself with his actions, but at the same time, he has provided an opportunity for Bosnian-Herzegovinian patriots in politics to finally show whether they have the readiness, courage, and strength to resolve once and for all the issue of not only the organization, but also the defense and progress of this country.

Shooting from empty pens about some judicial prosecutions and calling on the stagnant international community to protect us has long been worn out and spent, because our judiciary is controlled by Dodik, and the international community has neither the vision nor the agenda for where to go with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This country was defended by patriots who did not ask about the price, it is time for political representatives to show whether they are ready to embark on the process of returning the RBiH Constitution, without asking about the price, which will mean protecting the integrity, unity, and independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina while simultaneously expanding the path of Euro-Atlantic integration.

Dodik has revealed his cards, it's time for a state-building move, if there is anyone who will make it seriously!