SDA responds to criticism: Organising BiH as a state of equal citizens

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Following a series of criticisms and reactions to the SDA's Programmatic Declaration, in which among constitutional reforms they state they see BiH as a republic, the SDA has also responded. 

They state that everything written in the SDA's Programmatic Declaration adopted at the 7th Congress regarding constitutional reform was also included in the programmatic declarations adopted at the SDA congresses in 2009 and 2015, they announced.

The party questions why the Republika Srpska and neighbouring Serbia have only now remembered to challenge something that has been a clear position of the SDA and a legitimate political goal for decades.

"Rejecting unfounded attacks and pressures, we also remind of the declaration of the SNSD assembly, in which they stated secession of the RS as a goal, as well as the declaration of the SNS from 2013, in which they stated the annexation of the RS to Serbia as a goal. It is precisely these two declarations, which announce attacks on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH through unilateral violations of Dayton, that are the greatest threats to peace and stability in BiH and the Western Balkans. 

This is clearly about some wanting to have the right to openly advocate for unilateral violations of Dayton, through announcements of secession or formation of new entities, while trying to silence us with pressure when we seek legal constitutional reforms and a legitimate goal – a state of equal citizens," the statement reads. 

The SDA claims that they are not threatening anyone, nor do they intend to achieve their goal - the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state of equal citizens - through unconstitutional, unilateral and illegal moves.

"The current Constitution of BiH stipulates that constitutional reform requires a two-thirds and entity majority in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, and that is the only path to changing the organisation of BiH, which the SDA perfectly understands. At the same time, we believe that over time more and more people throughout BiH, among all peoples, will understand that it is best for BiH to be organised, following the example of developed EU countries, as a state of equal citizens. We will work, with all political forces that share the same vision of BiH, on promoting and strengthening that idea, until we have the necessary two-thirds and entity majority in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH," the Party of Democratic Action announced.