Inzko calls on BiH leaders to stop endless rhetoric of division

(Patria) - The Office of the High Representative recently responded to a series of journalists' questions regarding the SDA declaration adopted at the party's recent congress. Since some have misinterpreted our response, the High Representative wishes to clarify his position on some of the issues discussed at the SDA congress, the OHR announced today.

"The High Representative condemns the fact that the SDA decided to formulate its vision of BiH's future based on a concept that is clearly unacceptable to some other political options. It is not constructive that the party presented such a concept, knowing it would provoke negative reactions and create additional tensions.

The High Representative wishes to clearly emphasize that, in accordance with his mandate, he is obliged to insist on full respect for the Dayton Peace Agreement. This includes the BiH Constitution, which clearly guarantees the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of BiH and states that BiH consists of two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska. Any change to the internal organization of BiH must be adopted in accordance with the procedures provided for by the Constitution, which requires a comprehensive process of building consensus and agreement across the entire political spectrum.

The High Representative deeply regrets the rhetoric of some party officials at the SDA congress, in which individuals accused of alleged crimes against innocent victims during the war were glorified and celebrated. Such attitudes held by any politician or public figure are harmful to the process of reconciliation among communities in BiH and are therefore unacceptable. The High Representative calls on all political and institutional leaders in the country to stop the endless rhetoric of division and to create a climate conducive to the formation of government at all levels," the OHR announced.