What Ambassador Ferguson replied to RS President Dodik

Edward Ferguson, the British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, responded to an open letter sent to him by Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska, reports the Patria News Agency. 

- I have always accepted that Republika Srpska has the legal right to hold referendums on issues within its jurisdiction as an entity and in accordance with the BiH Constitution. However, the reasoning that accompanied the decision of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska very clearly shows that the proposed referendum on the Day of Republika Srpska challenges the legal authority of the decisions of the Constitutional Court of BiH. According to the Dayton Agreement, these decisions are final and binding.

This is the basis on which the United Kingdom expressed concern regarding the referendum, along with the High Representative and other international partners. The political rhetoric heard from all sides in recent days contributes nothing. We hope that these concerns can be resolved through peaceful and constructive dialogue, Ambassador Ferguson replied to the open letter sent to him by Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska.

Let us recall, the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik sent a letter to the Ambassador of Great Britain to BiH Edward Ferguson, in which he asked this diplomat under whose pressure he changed his mind about holding a referendum in that BiH entity and how it is possible that the people of his country can use a referendum as the supreme democratic tool, while the citizens of Republika Srpska cannot.

- I read your reaction to the announcement of the referendum on the Day of Republika Srpska with great surprise. Not so long ago, in a conversation with me, you did not think that way. Back then, you did not consider our right to hold a referendum, nor the question to be asked, to be unconstitutional or anti-Dayton, nor did you consider it an irrelevant political issue, emphasized the President of RS in the letter addressed to Ferguson.

Dodik stated that, on the other hand, Ferguson is the ambassador of a country that, not so long ago, promoted the right of citizens to express themselves on important national issues in a referendum.

"Your Excellency, I must ask you under whose pressure you changed your mind and how it is possible that the people of your country can use a referendum as the supreme democratic tool, while the citizens of Republika Srpska cannot. I respect the size, significance, and strength of your country, but you should also respect our constitutionally guaranteed rights. 'Brexit' shook the world, our referendum does not have such intentions or ambitions," the letter states.

Dodik emphasized that Republika Srpska simply wants to democratically convey that the Constitutional Court of BiH cannot be the place where it is decided when Republika Srpska was created.

Source: N1