Helez calls for reaction over January 9: Suspend the Agreement on Special Parallel Relations between Serbia and Republika Srpska

(Patria) - Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Zukan Helez called on judicial institutions to react over the celebration of the unconstitutional day of Republika Srpska.

He pointed out that January 9 as the day of the smaller BiH entity was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of BiH on two occasions and that its celebration is a criminal offence.

"I demand from the judicial institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily from the BiH Prosecutor's Office, to prosecute the organisers of this provocative, unconstitutional event. The smaller BiH entity is a side effect of terrible war events, bordered by mass graves, founded on war crimes, genocide, camps, and the expulsion of non-Serb population. January 9 can only be a day of mourning, a day of remembrance for the victims of Greater Serbian politics," Helez said.

He also said that from this perspective it is now clear that in 1995 in Dayton a huge mistake was made, reflected primarily in the formation of an administrative unit within Bosnia and Herzegovina, the entity of Republika Srpska with the powers and competencies given to it, but also with the name it bears.

"The Agreement on the Establishment of Special Parallel Relations between Serbia and Republika Srpska, which was supposed to contribute to the social, democratic and economic development of Republika Srpska, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been abused. This agreement today serves as a basis for undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity and wholeness of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the aggressive interference of neighbouring Serbia in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The international community must react and suspend the Agreement on the Establishment of Special Parallel Relations between Serbia and Republika Srpska," said Helez.

He added that today's political leaderships of Republika Srpska and Serbia are only a pale copy of Radovan Karadžić, Ratko Mladić and Slobodan Milošević. Their political goals are the same. 'Serbian world' is the same as 'Greater Serbia'.

"If the international community continues to tolerate the secessionist policy, which the leadership of the smaller BiH entity openly announces, and the aggressive policy of neighbouring Serbia towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is only a matter of days before we wake up in some new conflict in these areas. There is no more time and patience, it is time for a comprehensive action against separatists," Helez concluded.