Dodik's letter: The referendum is not to challenge BiH, but to strengthen the Dayton Agreement

President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik sent a letter today to the members of the Presidency of BiH, the Chairman and ministers of the Council of Ministers of BiH, all deputies in both houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, the presidents and prime ministers of Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, embassies and diplomatic offices accredited in BiH, international organizations and offices of international organizations in BiH, as well as to all relevant addresses of the European Parliament and the US Congress dealing with foreign policy and Southeast Europe, reports the Patria news agency.

In a very extensive letter, Dodik explained his views on the referendum in RS on the judiciary of BiH.

- The National Assembly of Republika Srpska, on July 15, 2015, adopted a decision to call a referendum in order to give its citizens the opportunity to express their opinion on the laws imposed on them by the High Representative appointed in accordance with Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Some members of the international community and others have stated that the planned referendum of Republika Srpska is illegal, that it violates the Dayton Peace Agreement and that it exceeds the legal powers granted to Republika Srpska by the Constitution of BiH and other applicable regulations. In the attached analysis entitled "Legal Basis for the Planned Referendum of Republika Srpska", we explain that the referendum is fully in accordance with the Dayton Agreement and other applicable regulations - the letter states.

In the attached analysis entitled "Legal Basis for the Planned Referendum of Republika Srpska", he explains that the referendum, as stated, is fully in accordance with the Dayton Agreement and other applicable regulations.

In addition to explaining that the citizens of Republika Srpska, like other citizens across Europe, have a clear legal right to express their opinion through the referendum mechanism, he wishes to clarify several related positions of Republika Srpska.

- Republika Srpska remains committed to continuing the structured dialogue on the judiciary with the European Union, which was initiated several years ago by an agreement between the leaders of Republika Srpska and the EU with the aim of resolving serious problems in the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Dodik states.

He emphasizes that the goal of the referendum is not to challenge the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in any way, but to strengthen the Dayton Agreement and its solutions.

He appeals to all those who share this commitment to reform and international cooperation for improving the lives of all citizens to support these principled efforts and resist those who misinterpret or politicize programs of positive change.