Zvizdić responds to Hungarian Minister Szijjárt: You must stop interfering in BiH's internal affairs

(Patria) - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdić reacted to the statements of Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjárt, who supported Milorad Dodik, and commented on the work of BiH judiciary.

“The frequent and biased interference of Péter Szijjárt, Orbán's Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as his unargued commentary on judicial proceedings and political processes in BiH, must stop. Szijjárt should know, as every diplomatic beginner knows, that the principles and rules of interstate relations were defined by the Helsinki Conference, one of the most important principles being non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, which clearly defines that 'participating states shall refrain from any form of interference, direct or indirect, individual or collective, in the internal or external affairs falling under the domestic jurisdiction of another participating state, regardless of their mutual relations.'

Zvizdić states that Szijjárt's chronic misunderstanding of the political situation and
political and social relations in BiH is a particular problem, which is why, and it is more than obvious, the only criterion in his reactions is the apologetic defense of Dodik's unconstitutional and anti-state activities.

"One of the best examples is the latest, completely unfounded and untrue statement by Szijjárt that 'the accusations against Milorad Dodik have proven to be unfounded, as Bosnian authorities had to suspend further proceedings against the former president of Republika Srpska.'

The minister should know, but unfortunately, he is once again unilaterally and incorrectly informed, that the BiH Prosecutor's Office issued an order not to conduct an investigation because the Constitutional Court of BiH annulled Dodik's unconstitutional laws, through which, using the National Assembly of Republika Srpska as a platform for his political maneuvers, he attempted to unilaterally withdraw the BiH entity of Republika Srpska from the constitutional, legal, and institutional framework of the state, and they were ultimately formally and legally nullified by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska.

Therefore, Mr. Minister, the accusations against Dodik did not prove to be unfounded, but rather Dodik capitulated to the strength and authority of state institutions, including the Constitutional Court of BiH, and certainly, with the friendly assistance of those who advocate for the preservation of territorial integrity, sovereignty, the Constitution, peace, and stability in BiH.

And finally, Mr. Minister, considering the decades-long connection between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary, on a political, cultural, economic, and social level, I believe that your attitude towards Bosnia and Herzegovina should, instead of unfounded denial and negation of legal (as well as political and other) facts, be based on the promotion of interstate and regional cooperation based on mutual respect, equality, democratic principles, European values, the rule of law, and prosperity. Simply put, we in BiH want the rule of law instead of the rule of autocrats," the reaction states.