Schmidt, calling on politicians in Bosnia to find a solution to the property issue

2023-04-25 18:34:54, Kosova & Bota CNA

Schmidt, calling on politicians in Bosnia to find a solution to the property

The high representative of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt

The high representative of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, has again called on local politicians to resolve disagreements regarding state property. These calls come at a time when ethnic Serbs are continuing to claim that these properties belong to two state entities and not to the Bosnian state.

Republika Srpska, the Serbian entity that together with the Bosnian-Croat Federation makes up the state of Bosnia, has attempted several times to implement the Property Law, which would have allowed it to transfer state property to its jurisdiction, despite the fact that an action by such has been described as unconstitutional.

The 1995 Dayton Accords, which ended the war in Bosnia, established an administrative system in which Bosnia is divided into Republika Srpska and the Bosnian-Croat Federation, linked by a weak central government.

Republika Srpska has said that the Property Law aims to ensure that assets located in the territory of this entity, including local governments, public companies, public institutions and other departments, belong to the Serbian entity.

However, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia has declared that the national Parliament should adopt a law on property, which would be valid throughout Bosnia, and not only in one of the two entities.

On April 25, Schmidt emphasized that the decisions of the Constitutional Court are final, binding and must be implemented, as the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina is an integral part of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

"The claims [of ethnic Serbs] that the issue of ownership of state property has already been decided in the Dayton Agreement is not true. This is an issue that still requires resolution in this state. Therefore, the message is simple: Bosnian politicians, do your job," Schmidt said.

Ethnic Serb politicians on April 24 signed a declaration stating that the Bosnian state does not own territory but only external borders, the Bosnian Constitutional Court and the Prosecutor's Office are unconstitutional and illegal, and that Republika Srpska will assume all powers "which are not directly determined by the state Constitution".

Schmidt said there is a need for negotiations at the technical and legal level to move forward towards sustainable and acceptable solutions to disputes between states and ethnic groups over assets.

In response to repeated threats by Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik that Republika Srpska will leave Bosnia if the property issue is not resolved in its favor, Schmidt reiterated that the entities have no right to secede as they exist. only on the basis of the Constitution that was compiled in the Dayton Agreement.

"The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina are not in question and I reject all irresponsible activities in this direction," said Schmidt.

He added that no borders or obstacles can be established inside Bosnia and that any restriction of freedom of movement is unacceptable./ REL