GO SDA: Call on the RSNA to annul the referendum decision, and on the OHR to act

At today's session of the SDA Main Committee held in Jajce, conclusions were adopted which the Patria news agency transmits in full.

The Main Committee emphasizes the fundamental program goals of the SDA: strengthening and economic development of a complete, democratic, legal state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state of equal peoples and citizens, and its Euro-Atlantic integration; preserving peace and stability and strengthening trust in the state and region; friendly cooperation with neighboring countries based on the principles of respect and equality.

The SDA Main Committee most strongly condemned the decision of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska to schedule a referendum for September 25 as the crudest violation of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Peace Agreement.

The Main Committee warns that the possible conduct of the referendum scheduled for September 25 would be an introduction to referendums on abolishing the competencies of judicial and other institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a referendum on the secession of the RS from Bosnia and Herzegovina. This would be the beginning of the destruction of the Peace Agreement and the beginning of the destruction of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and probably in the region as well.

The Main Committee calls on the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska to annul the decision on conducting the referendum. If the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska does not annul the decision on conducting the referendum, a decisive reaction from the international community is necessary as a warning that any anti-Dayton activity will not be tolerated and that the European, NATO, and reform path of Bosnia and Herzegovina has no alternative. Above all, the OHR is obliged, in accordance with its responsibilities, to make a decision banning the holding of the referendum.

The Main Committee demands that the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina fulfill their constitutional obligation and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This primarily refers to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the judicial institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Main Committee considers the decision of the authorities of the Republic of Serbia not to support the anti-Dayton and unconstitutional referendum activities of the RS entity to be a responsible approach and an expression of good will. However, we remind that the Republic of Serbia is the successor of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which signed the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina on its own behalf and, as authorized, on behalf of the RS. By doing so, the Republic of Serbia undertook the "obligation to implement the Agreement strictly and consequentially." This implies non-interference in the internal affairs of the sovereign and equal state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also the obligation of the Republic of Serbia, not only verbally but primarily effectively, to deter the RS from attacks on the order and institutions established by the Dayton Peace Agreement. This is a common interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and a necessary framework for building trust, progress, investment, and development of both states.

The Main Committee supports the activities of the Party President Bakir Izetbegović and the Party leadership aimed at preventing anti-Dayton and unconstitutional attacks from the RS.

The Main Committee welcomes the reform, integration, and economic progress achieved through the work of the Council of Ministers and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina led by prime ministers from the SDA. Following the adaptation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the harmonization of the coordination mechanism, we justifiably expect the submission of the questionnaire from Brussels and the approximation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to candidate status.

The Main Committee welcomes the adoption of the Defence Review in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Decision of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the registration of military property in Han Pijesak to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following these decisions, we expect the acceleration of the activation of the Membership Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina's NATO membership.

The Main Committee considers that the aforementioned integration progress represents a new impetus for the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further work on the EU and NATO integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a sure perspective for its stability and economic development.

The Main Committee welcomes the responsible attitude and good cooperation within the SDA-SBB coalition, which has stabilized governments at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina at a time when this stability is extremely important.

The Main Committee supports the amendments to the Law on Games of Chance and insists that the parliamentary procedure for adopting this law be concluded efficiently and as soon as possible, the SDA statement reads.