Bosnian Serb Parliament Says ‘No’ to New High Representative

The parliament of the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska, RS, on Wednesday called for the closure of the Office of the High Representative, OHR, the international body overseeing the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The top international authority in Bosnia was created in 1995 immediately after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the 1992-95 Bosnian War, to oversee the civilian implementation of the agreement.

Addressing the parliament, which analyzed the work of the OHR, Bosnian Serb supremo Milorad Dodik - now the Serbian member of the three-member state presidency - accused the OHR of abusing its position and working to the detriment of the RS to the benefit of Bosniak parties.

"Twenty-six years on from the war we are living under a protectorate. Most of the problems we are dealing with come from the actions of the High Representatives and the so-called international community," Dodik claimed.

"It is time for the OHR to be closed, and responsibility for the future and functioning of Bosnia to become the exclusive right and competence of the people of Bosnia," the parliament said in its conclusions, adding: "If this is not on the agenda soon, talks on a peaceful break-up should be launched, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, which guarantees every nation the right to self-determination."

The adopted conclusions say the RS will also sue the High Representatives for violating the Dayton Agreement and that an international legal team will be formed for that purpose.

The session was scheduled as talks intensify on the appointment of a new High Representative to succeed the Austrian Valentin Inzko.

The names of two candidates are on the table: Christian Schmidt, former German...