NATO with Bosnia and Herzegovina: Serbian amendment rejected, RS labelled a destabilising factor

Following the rejection of the amendment, Agnes Vadai, Vice-President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, expressed support for the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Dayton, Ohio, a Declaration was adopted underlining the importance of defence capacity building.

Article 22 of the Declaration underlines the importance of stability and peace in the Western Balkans and expresses serious concern about the latest legal solutions and initiatives in the BiH entity Republika Srpska, which undermine and threaten the constitutional order, sovereignty and territorial and functional integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Dayton Peace Agreement signed 30 years ago.

Serbia has tabled an amendment to this article, requesting the removal of the reference to Republika Srpska. However, the amendment was rejected.

Following the rejection of the amendment, the Vice-President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Agnes Vadai, expressed her support for the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

US Congressman and Chairman of the US Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Michael R. Turner and NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Marcos Perestrello issued a joint statement addressing the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and pointing to destabilising factors.

Complex challenges remain. Bosnia and Herzegovina is at a critical juncture. We are deeply concerned about the separatist rhetoric and actions coming from the Republika Srpska that threaten the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of the country. We welcome the strong and united position of the leaders of the United States of America and Europe in unequivocally condemning this dangerous and destabilising behaviour. Their clear determination to resist such actions and to prevent the emergence of a security vacuum in the region is urgent and commendable, they stressed.

A return to instability and violence is not possible, they warned.

We call on all political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage in constructive dialogue in good faith and in full respect of the Constitution. It is essential to respect the rule of law, to accelerate the necessary reforms and, above all, to strengthen the cohesion of the country and the integrity of its institutions. These efforts are crucial for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress in its European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, Turner and Perestrello said./Oslobodjenje.ba/