EC calls on BiH and RS authorities to respect court ruling on Dodik

AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

The European Commission (EC) has called on the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), including the institutions of Republika Srpska (RS), to respect the final court ruling and the decision of the Central Election Commission to terminate the mandate of the entity's president, Milorad Dodik.

"Following the final ruling of the Court of BiH, the Central Election Commission on Wednesday decided to terminate the mandate of Dodik as president of RS. In accordance with the Election Law of BiH, early elections need to be organised," the EC replied to N1's questions about the RS authorities' refusal to accept the ruling and their announcement that they would not implement it.

The response states that the EU calls on all relevant institutions and political parties to enable the swift and orderly holding of presidential elections in RS, with full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of BiH.

"Any action contrary to these principles may have serious consequences," they told N1 in Brussels.

They declined to comment on Dodik's recent visit to the highest Hungarian officials and their support for his decision not to comply with the ruling.

The EC recalled that since 2011 it has had a sanctions mechanism in place against "persons who seriously threaten the security of BiH and undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement".

As they stated, they are closely monitoring the situation in RS, and future steps depend on the decisions of the member states.

"The EU encourages all political actors in BiH to resolve the situation through dialogue and to turn to a constructive agenda in line with the country's European perspective", the EC's answers to questions N1 state.