Bosnian Serb leader reiterates his refusal to accept legality of Bosnia's High Representative

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – Milorad Dodik, the Bosnian Serb leader known for his controversial statements against the country's constitution as well as fanning sentiments for his region's separation from the federation, reiterated on Wednesday that he does not accept the legality of Bosnia's High Representative, who oversees the peace agreement.

''We do not accept (High Representative Christian) Smit, we do not accept the ‘idiotic behavior’ of (US ambassador to Michael) Murphy, and we do not accept Bosnia and Herzegovina outside the constitution,'' said Dodik, president of the Republika Srpska (RS), one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dodik made these remarks at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the capital Sarajevo, where he is facing a lawsuit for not respecting the decisions of the Office of the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina (OHR).

“Many expect me to be barred from political work, but that would absolve me of public responsibility, and if I am barred, I will form an organization for an independent Republika Srpska. I thank everyone who came out today to support me, as well as the entire Republika Srpska,” he said.

Meanwhile, entity representatives and some association members supporting the Bosnian Serb leader gathered in front of the courthouse.

In this case, the government prosecutor's office is seeking a five-year prison sentence for Dodik.

An indictment was prepared against Dodik and the entity Official Gazette Director Milos Lukic for failing to respect OHR decisions, and Dodik appeared at his first hearing on Oct. 16.

''A primarily political process is being conducted against me, which is caused by the fact that a non-existent foreigner formally imposes decisions and changes laws, which is an attack on Bosnia and Herzegovina and its sovereignty,'' said the Bosnian Serb leader.

In June this year, the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska (NSRS) decided that the High Representative's decisions should not be published in the entity's Official Gazette.

Later, High Representative Schmidt announced that the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska had canceled this decision and it could not come into force. Despite Schmidt's statement, the decision went into effect.