NATO supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and will not allow a security vacuum or endangerment of the hard-won peace in that country, Radio Free Europe (RSE) was told at the headquarters of the Western military alliance in Brussels.
When asked by RFE/RL about statements by Republika Srpska officials regarding the upcoming sentencing of its President Milorad Dodik, NATO headquarters emphasized that the security of BiH is important for the region, Europe and the alliance, and that the alliance remains committed to partnership with BiH and reform efforts, and that it expects political leaders in that country to "do their part."
"In this sense, threats of secession, internal political struggles, retrograde and nationalist ideas are eroding the hard-won stability of this country. They are destabilizing and dangerous," the response from NATO headquarters said.
It is added that it is crucial that all political leaders in BiH encourage reforms for the benefit of citizens and contribute to reconciliation, lasting peace and good neighborly relations.
"This is crucial for the security of BiH and for regional stability," NATO said.
The Court of BiH will pronounce first-instance verdicts on February 26 against Dodik and the acting director of the Official Gazette of Republika Srpska, Miloš Lukić, accused of failing to implement decisions of the High Representative of the International Community in BiH, Kristijan Šmit. Both the BiH Prosecutor's Office and the defense will have the right to appeal the verdicts.
The BiH Prosecutor's Office has asked the Court of BiH to sentence Dodik to five years in prison and ban him from political activity for ten years. The prosecution has also requested the same maximum sentence for Lukić.
Dodik stated yesterday that Republika Srpska's response to the upcoming verdict is designed in two phases, the second of which involves the withdrawal of that entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Dayton Agreement and a request to Serbia to reach an agreement on a confederation, and later on a federation and monetary union of Republika Srpska and Serbia.
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