Officials from RS angered Inzko: Domestic politicians do not determine the mandate of the High Representative

The powers of the High Representative, including his role as the final authority for interpreting the civilian aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement, are legal facts arising from the text of the Dayton Agreement and the text of the United Nations Security Council resolutions subsequently adopted in accordance with the mandate provided under Chapter VII, the OHR announced today, reports the Patria news agency.  

-Article V of Annex 10 of the Dayton Agreement clearly states that the High Representative has the final authority in the field of action regarding the interpretation of the Agreement when it comes to the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement, and entrusts the High Representative with the task of providing assistance, when he deems it necessary, in resolving any difficulties arising from the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Agreement.

The Constitution embedded in Annex 4 of the Peace Agreement is one of the foundations of the civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement, and the High Representative has so far on several occasions had to interpret the Constitution in order to overcome difficulties in its implementation.

Also, since 1995, the United Nations Security Council has annually adopted resolutions reaffirming that the High Representative is the final authority in the field of action regarding the interpretation of the civilian aspects of the implementation of the Peace Agreement and that, in case of dispute, he may, among other things, provide interpretation and make binding decisions when he deems it necessary, in accordance with the opinions of the Peace Implementation Council.

Recent attempts by some officials in the Republika Srpska to challenge the provisions of these international legal documents cannot change reality. Instead, their intention seems to be to secure public support for the policy of the Republika Srpska authorities to deny those parts of the Peace Agreement that do not serve their political goals.

Such a policy, a policy of denying the powers of the High Representative in order to justify violations of the Peace Agreement, risks further isolation of this entity, which is not in the interest of the citizens living in it.

Regardless, the mandate of the High Representative remains unchanged, as do his powers, the OHR statement said.