The Republika Srpska (RS) is going to withdraw its consent to a common army within Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and form its own armed forces.

This was announced by a member of the BiH Presidium, former President of the RS Milorad Dodik on the air of the national television of the autonomy.

“We will withdraw our consent from the law on the army, we will withdraw our consent from the law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.

We will propose (to parliament. -

RT

), and a decision will be made on this in the coming days, in order to form the army of the Republika Srpska in a few months through the abolition of the law on the army, ”Dodik told reporters.

According to the ex-leader of the republic, the constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina allows the RS to keep its own troops.

He also expressed the hope that the deputies will reject all decisions of the UN High Representative for BiH, German diplomat Christian Schmidt, who was appointed to his post on May 27.

Earlier, Dodik demanded to close the office of the high representative.

Moscow also protested and reported that the approval of Schmidt's candidacy violated such crucial procedures as the approval of the Bosnian parties and the UN Security Council.

Let us remind you that the political structure of Bosnia is determined by the Dayton agreements concluded in December 1995.

The agreements put an end to the bloody civil war and divided the region of the former Yugoslavia into two separate administrative-territorial entities (entities) - the Muslim-Croatian Federation of BiH and the Republika Srpska.

Compliance with the civilian part of the Dayton Accords is monitored by the UN High Representative for BiH.

He has the right to overrule the decisions of the Bosnian authorities and dismiss state officials if they threaten the security of the region.

It was assumed that his power would be temporary, but the institution of the High Representative is still functioning.

"Are harassed"

Experts believe that although Dodik is no longer president, he still remains an authoritative figure in the RS, capable of significantly influencing decision-making processes.

Analysts noted that his resonant initiatives appeared against the background of a noticeably aggravated situation in Kosovo.

“In the Balkans, Serbs are periodically subjected to harassment or direct violence.

In Kosovo, for example, they are squeezed out of the region, and there are practically no means of protection.

This circumstance is taken into account not only in Belgrade, but, apparently, in the Republika Srpska, which is also in a difficult situation, "Pavel Kandel, a leading researcher at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explained in an interview with RT.

On September 20, the special forces of the partially recognized republic occupied the Jarine and Brnjak crossings on the administrative line with Central Serbia - it was about modernizing the infrastructure and improving the working conditions of the police.

According to Belgrade, in reality, the security forces began to force local residents to remove Serbian license plates from their cars and replace them with temporary signs of Kosovo.

The Serbs viewed these actions as an encroachment on their rights and began a protest action.

The security forces of Pristina used tear gas against the demonstrators.

Clashes continue.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic demanded that Pristina withdraw the troops.

Along with this, the formations of the Serbian army, armed with T-72 tanks, Lazar armored personnel carriers, and Milos armored vehicles, were pulled to the administrative line of Kosovo.

MiG-29 fighters and Mi-35 helicopters were seen in the sky.

The North Atlantic Alliance has called on both sides to de-escalate immediately.

Also, the number and duration of patrols of the NATO-subordinate international forces KFOR (Kosovo Force) was increased.

Moscow is providing diplomatic support to Belgrade.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation placed the responsibility for the aggravation of the situation on the authorities of the partially recognized republic.

  • KFOR fighters in training

  • © KFOR Public Affairs Office

As Kandel explained, in Kosovo, there is another attempt by Pristina to cut the rights of the Serbian population and put pressure on Belgrade.

At the same time, the expert excludes the likelihood of an armed conflict.

“I don’t think Belgrade will bring in troops.

Well, the West, as before, reacts very sluggishly.

And this is not surprising, since NATO, Washington, Brussels - they are all on the side of the Albanians, ”Kandel said.

"Anti-Serb Solutions"

According to experts, another factor that prompted Dodik's initiative to create his own army is Banja Luka's protest against the continuing institution of a high representative, whose activities undermine the autonomy of the Republika Srpska.

In early August, in an interview with RT, RS President Zeljka Cviyanovic stated that high officials "repeatedly violated human rights" by imposing sanctions against legitimately elected government officials.

Also, according to her, they grossly interfered in the affairs of MS.

“High representatives persisted in violating the legal framework of their mandate, changed constitutions (apart from the general Constitution of BiH, both entities have separate basic laws. -

RT

), laws, replaced the powers of parliament, the judiciary and many other institutions.

Now the time has come when it is necessary to somehow abandon such a quasi-institution, ”Tsviyanovic emphasized.

In July, a resolution to abolish the post of high representative for BiH was submitted to the vote of the UN Security Council by Moscow and Beijing.

It provided for the termination of the mandate from July 31, 2022.

The document did not require the removal of Schmidt from his post with the proviso that his powers would not go beyond the chain of command prescribed in the existing agreements.

Not a single state voted against the Russian-Chinese resolution, but only the Russian Federation and the PRC themselves supported it, the other 13 members abstained.

Thus, the document was not accepted.

Tsviyanovic said the resolution gave "the international community a chance to get out of the crisis" and expressed regret that it was not approved.

“I really appreciate this resolution, which was a wonderful attempt to give the international community a chance to get out of the crisis, while at least partially retaining its reputation.

Unfortunately, we saw the reaction that followed, and this initiative was unsuccessful because some tirelessly and persistently continue to defend what would be an anomaly in any democratic state, ”said Cvijanovic.

  • President of the Republika Srpska Zeljka Cviyanovic

  • AP

  • © Darko Vojinovic

As Georgy Engelhardt, a researcher at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explained in a commentary to RT, the high representative for BiH has long turned into a conductor of the policy of Western states, which is aimed at transforming Bosnia into a "centralized state."

“Creating your own army is a harsh form of discontent, but it is defensive in nature.

Dodik, being the supreme representative of the Serbian community in the Presidium of BiH, expresses understandable concern about the future of the Republika Srpska, whose autonomy they are trying to destroy in violation of the Dayton agreements, ”says Engelhardt.

According to the expert, in addition to the powers of the high representative, the West actively uses the power of the Constitutional Court of BiH, turning the instance into an “obedient mechanism”.

“The Constitutional Court consists of three foreigners, two Serbs, two Boshniaks (Slavs who converted to Islam -

RT

) and two Croats.

The institution carries out anti-Serb decisions, using the votes of three foreigners and two Muslims.

It turns out the majority, which is enough to pass discriminatory decisions, ”said Engelhardt.

One of the latest norms that caused Banja Luka's indignation was the decision of the Constitutional Court of BiH that the forest fund of the Republika Srpska cannot be the property of the autonomy.

As Engelhardt explained, the point is that the RS forests should be transferred to the ownership of the authorities in Sarajevo.

“In fact, the Constitutional Court of BiH, again using the majority of votes, deprived the Republika Srpska of its own forests.

Naturally, Banja Luka is categorically against such a decision.

Yes, the Republika Srpska hardly has the resources to create a full-fledged army, but this moment will certainly be used in the political struggle to uphold the legitimate rights of autonomy, ”says Engelhardt.

According to the expert, Western states are responsible for the incessant pressure on Banja Luka.

Their strategic goal, according to the interlocutor of RT, is "building a centralized Bosnian state, in which the Bosnians will play the main role."

  • Security forces of the Republika Srpska at the exercises

  • Reuters

  • © Dado Ruvic

Pavel Kandel adheres to a similar point of view.

According to the expert, the West actually wrote the high representative for BiH carte blanche for a variety of anti-Serb initiatives with the aim of eliminating the RS as an autonomous entity.

“Christian Schmidt, like his predecessors, is a kind of governor-general.

All of them proceed from the premise that they can ignore the opinion of the RS management and bear no responsibility for this.

Relying on the support of the West, they are pursuing the goal of centralizing power as much as possible within Bosnia, which is a confederal republic, ”Kandel said.

As the interlocutor of RT believes, the leadership of the Republika Srpska will continue to defend the interests of the autonomy, but without the use of military and violent methods.

“I don’t know about the real creation of the army.

It is rather a diplomatic game, but the parliament can support some rather radical initiatives of Milorad Dodik.

Republika Srpska does not want to take the path of aggravating relations, but in a situation of growing pressure on it, Banja Luka is forced to take measures to protect its autonomy, ”concluded Kandel.