US Senators Chuck Grassley and Jeanne Shaheen have launched an initiative in Congress calling for urgent diplomatic intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina to stop "unconstitutional actions", the Bosnian edition of the regional television channel En 1 reported. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also joined the initiative, BTA reports.
Senator Grassley underscored the seriousness of the situation, saying the United States "is not only watching who supports stability in the region, but also who seeks a return to ethnic division and possible genocide that could happen again."
Last month, a Bosnian court convicted the president of Bosnian Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, of disobeying orders from the international community's high representative in Bosnia. The court sentenced him to one year in prison and banned him from holding public office for six years. Members of the Republika Srpska parliament have passed controversial laws that ban Bosnia and Herzegovina's judiciary and police from operating in the Bosnian Serb-controlled part of the country. Yesterday, the Bosnian prosecutor's office issued an arrest warrant for Dodik for violating constitutional order.
Under the terms of the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the Bosnian war (1992-1995), the country is divided into two semi-autonomous parts - the Republika Srpska, populated mainly by Bosnian Serbs, and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, inhabited mainly by Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) and Bosnian Croats. Each part has its own government, parliament and police, but the two parts are linked by common state-level institutions, including a judiciary, army, security services and tax administration. Compliance with the Dayton Agreement is monitored by a high-ranking representative of the international community, who has broad powers, including enforcing laws, appointing and dismissing civil servants, etc.
The US Senate sent an official letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which is a diplomatic response to "Republic of Srpska's recent unconstitutional actions that threaten to destabilize the region."
Earlier, Marco Rubio warned that Dodik's actions threaten security and stability in Bosnia and called on partners in the region to unite against this dangerous and destabilizing behavior.
In its letter, the Senate condemns Dodik's actions and reaffirms its support for compliance with the Bosnian constitution. Senators call for swift and decisive action, including diplomatic pressure and additional sanctions against specific individuals who threaten regional stability.
Chuck Grassley and Jeanne Shaheen, in collaboration with BiHUnited and partner organizations, have formulated a strategic plan to address the crisis that includes expanding sanctions against individuals violating Bosnia's sovereignty, appointing a special envoy for the Western Balkans to coordinate diplomatic efforts, coordinating international pressure against secession threats, and clearly reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Bosnia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The initiative aims to challenge proposed constitutional amendments in Republika Srpska that seek to illegally establish sovereign status, create mechanisms for possible secession, and form illegal military structures. The letter emphasizes that this initiative is an expression of the United States' firm commitment to international stability and ensuring a peaceful and democratic future for Bosnia and Herzegovina.