Inzko for AJB: Law Banning Genocide Denial to be Adopted by June

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - High Representative Valentin Inzko told Aljazeera Balkans tonight that Milorad Dodik and the RS National Assembly have crossed the red line.

Asked if this includes the Bonn powers, Inzko said he is ready to react, but with the support of other countries of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board.

"The RS Assembly adopted eight conclusions, one of which is that it will not respect the decision of the BiH Constitutional Court. We need to return to the right path of respecting the decision of the BiH Constitutional Court. Mr. Dodik was pleased when the names of municipalities in northern BiH were changed and Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Šamac, Bosanski Novi no longer exist".

The PIC is currently undergoing new deliberations, and more member states think that the Bonn powers should be used, but a decision has not yet been made, Inzko said.

"Apart from Russia, there are other countries within the PIC that believe that domestic solutions are the best. I think so too, and these are countries that believe in domestic solutions, but I will not tell you publicly which ones. All these countries wish well for BiH. There are 11 or 12 countries in the PIC, some are more, some are less in favour of using the Bonn powers. One day there will be no EUFOR, there will be no Inzko", the High Representative stated.

Inzko reiterated that the meeting with Dodik was a party gathering and that representatives of judicial institutions should not have participated.

"I think the President of the HJPC violated the law; he is a judge, he should not have been there. I think the BiH Prosecutor was also there. The President of the CEC should not have gone there either", said Inzko.

The High Representative said that written correspondence can be expected between him and the Prosecutor's Office, or between him and the HJPC, without wishing to reveal details about further activities. 

When asked if the EU would impose sanctions on Milorad Dodik, he said he did not know, but that it could be a ban on entering Western countries. 

We have four months, but my opinion is that a law banning genocide denial is necessary for BiH.

"BiH, which strives to be an EU member, must have a law banning the denial of the Holocaust and genocide. If the Law is not adopted by July 11, we will consider what to do next", said Inzko, adding that this issue will be topical in June. 

Inzko said that the blockade will last until April 17, when the 60-day deadline expires, and said that there have been blockades before. 

He said that there is a possibility that the BiH Constitutional Court will provide a temporary solution to hold elections in Mostar.