Nikšić: OHR and PIC give tacit consent for the demolition of the Dayton Peace Agreement

President of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nermin Nikšić, regarding the lack of reaction from the Office of the High Representative and the failure to hold a session of the Peace Implementation Council in BiH, sent an open letter to these institutions. The Patria News Agency publishes it in full. 

- Your Excellencies,

I am not among those who expect foreigners to solve our problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, I am aware of the competencies, role, and need for the powers that the Office of the High Representative has, in accordance with the Constitution and the General Framework Agreement for Peace. That is precisely the reason for my addressing you in this manner. 

Namely, scheduling a referendum on the Day of Republika Srpska in the smaller BiH entity is the most severe form of violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement since its signing.

I am convinced we will agree on that. What we cannot agree on is the mild, in fact non-existent, reaction of the High Representative and his Office to this obvious violation of the Dayton Agreement and the threat to the stability of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The cancellation of the announced session of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), which was supposed to discuss the current situation, is particularly concerning. Instead of the views of the PIC members, the concerned public was offered a terse statement that the session is postponed.

It is truly unacceptable, even offensive, that representatives of the world's most developed democracies, which make up the PIC, must coordinate on the issue of a referendum that attempts to annul a ruling of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This is the crudest attack on the rule of law and, simply put, in any civilized country, it constitutes illegal activity and the undermining of its constitutional order.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that a large number of those who are abusing this situation for the purpose of their election campaign are deliberately producing additional tensions and homogenizing the electorate on a national basis. In this way, the electoral process and the atmosphere in which the elections should be held are completely compromised.

I am sure that our common interest is nonetheless to lower tensions and calm the situation, rather than the certain fact that the current challenging of institutions and lawlessness could lead to complete anarchy. Therefore, I call on you to immediately and without delay, in accordance with your duties and powers, stop this attempt to begin the destruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

If the High Representative's reaction fails to materialize, we will understand it as tacit consent for the unilateral demolition of the Dayton Peace Agreement by the institutions of Republika Srpska. 

I hope you are aware that, in that case, we return in Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Constitution and laws that were in force before its signing. This concerns the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that is the only legally possible solution to this crisis.

We, in the SDP, are determined to defend the principles of legality and the rule of law, and regardless of your passivity and that of the current authorities, we firmly believe that the citizens of this country, who love it and consider it their homeland, will not allow its destruction by those forces who are ready to defend their plunder and crime by endangering all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This is a time that demands courageous decisions, because any retreat before the forces of chaos and lawlessness has too high a price. If we have learned anything from the past, it is that we must oppose such policies without delay.

Unfortunately, there has already been too much delay, and it is high time for action - the open letter states.