Both the EU and the US condemned the by the President of Republika Srpska preventing High Representative Christian Schmidt from entering the country.
The EU delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina said on Friday that the refusal announced by Dodik was another provocation that undermined the constitutional framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Later, they added to X (formerly Twitter) that the president’s decision was neither legally justified nor enforceable.
The EU supports the mission of the High Representative and his Office.
The delegation also expressed dissatisfaction with the policies of the President of Republika Srpska. It believed that the Serbian leader “once again focused on divisive, inflammatory, and destabilising actions instead of reforms that deliver real benefits for citizens.”
Milorad Dodik said on Wednesday that Christian Schmidt would be arrested if he tried to set foot on the territory of the RS.
He announced the preparation of a decree prohibiting the entry of the High Representative to the RS. Furthermore, the police will be given the task of “expelling Schmidt” in case of his entry.
The next day, the President’s threats were condemned by the US Embassy in Sarajevo.
Milorad Dodik’s threat to prevent the High Representative from entering the Republika Srpska entity and to limit his freedom of movement is unconstitutional. This represents yet another deliberate attack by Dodik on the Dayton Peace Agreement, BiH’s constitutional order, and the state of BiH.
