Reactions from the Neighbourhood

Serbia supports Republika Srpska

"Lajčak's measures are aimed to break down Resolution 1244 and Deyton's Agreement - actually proclaiming independent Kosovo and abolition of Republika Srpska. That's an open threat against Serbian people", said Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica


By MARKO ANDREJIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Everything that happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina reflected in Serbia very much and politicians and officials made consensus in supporting Bosnian Serbs. There were very sharp reactions and critics against decisions of High Representative Miroslav Lajčak brought on October 19 and also against the statement of Croatian member of Presidency BiH Željko Komšić a few days later, who said that Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica should keep fingers far from Bosnia because he could lose his fingers and something else. We bring to you a short chronology of statements since the beginning of crisis in Bosnia.

After politicians in Republika Srpska interpreted the new measures of High Representative as a threat for Bosnian Serbs and after foreign diplomats - ambassadors of Great Britain and U.S.A. in Bosnia: Matthew Ricroft and Charles English - supported Miroslav Lajčak, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica made his statement by connecting situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo or Deyton's Peace Agreement and Resolution 1244:

"Lajčak's measures are aimed to break down Resolution 1244 and Deyton's Agreement - actually proclaiming independent Kosovo and abolition of Republika Srpska. That's an open threat against Serbian people", said Koštunica.

The Serbian Socialist Party had the same opinion and also added that Serbia has an obligation to protect Serbian people in Republika Srpska, because it is one side who guarantees for Deyton's Agreement.

President of Serbia, Boris Tadić has talked to Republika Srpska's Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and announced afterwards that the primary goals and interests of Serbia are peace, stability and a clear European perspective of the whole region of Southeastern Europe. "A condition for that is the fully respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all the countries in the region and in that way Serbia supports constitutional arrangement of Bosnia and Herzegovina based on principles of Deyton's Agreement", explained Tadić.

After Bosnian officials criticized Serbian prime minister because of his comments on Bosnian situation, Vojislav Koštunica and media advisor Srđan Đurić's cabinet labeled Željko Komšić's statements as rude, primitive, non-civilized and militant.

Chiefs of political parties in Serbian parliament asked the government to react because this is an open attack and a warning not only for the Prime Minister but also for the country.

President Tadić repeated his statement and asked High Representative Miroslav Lajčak to check out his decisions once more.

Embassies of Great Britain, U.S.A., France, Germany and Italy handed out their demarche to Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremić because of comments of Serbian officials on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Foreign representatives explained that this is because of the way of presenting the measures of High Representative but this act produced different reactions of Serbian public scene.

President Tadić canceled the meeting of Igman's Initiative (group of non-governmental organizations from Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia) after "iresponsible statements of Željko Komšić, president of BiH Presidency. Komšić said that he does not care about it and he does not have any intention regretting his words.

When the crises reached a critical point with the resignation of Nikola Špirić, the president of Ministery Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning that the falling of the Bosnian government , Serbian Prime Minister noticed that Miroslav Lajčak actually is the one who should resign, because his acts produced the crisis that still lasts...


(Published: 09.11.2007.)

Send your comments