Republika Srpska declares the German minister persona non grata, after sanctioning its leaders

The government of Republika Srpska declared the German Minister of State for Europe and Climate, Anna Luhrmann, persona non grata – or undesirable on Friday, a day after Germany banned the leaders of this entity from Bosnia and Herzegovina from entering the country.

Germany and Austria announced on Thursday that the three leaders of the Bosnian Serb entity: President Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Vishkovic and National Assembly President Nenad Stevandic, will be banned from entering these two countries because they have incited a constitutional crisis in Bosnia.

The Government of Republika Srpska said that the mentioned measures against it by Germany, as well as public statements and today's visit to Republika Srpska by Minister Luhrmann, are "direct interference in internal affairs and violation of international conventions".

"In order to protect the political and institutional integrity of Republika Srpska, the Government introduces reciprocal measures, which represent a proportionate and legitimate response in accordance with international practices," the Republika Srpska Government said on Friday.

She said that for this reason she has decided to declare Luhrmann an undesirable person in Republika Srpska.

Germany and Austria said in their verdict on Thursday that attacks on the constitutional integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina by key politicians of Republika Srpska "are unacceptable and pose a threat to the security and stability of Bosnia and the entire region".

In March, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued national summons to Dodik, Vishković and Stevandiqu, accusing them of violating Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitutional order with their actions.

All three have ignored the authorities' summons to appear for questioning.

Dodik is under sanctions from the United States and the United Kingdom, but the European Union has so far been unable to find common ground on sanctions against him, due to opposition from its member, Hungary.

Western governments believe that Dodik's actions are aimed at separating Republika Srpska from Bosnia.

Dodik was sentenced in February to one year in prison and banned from serving for six years for ignoring the decisions of the international High Representative.

In response, Republika Srpska's Parliamentary Assembly passed laws prohibiting the work of the Court, the Prosecutor's Office, the State Investigation Agency (SIPA) and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia on the territory of this entity.

Dodik decreed those laws on March 5.

Republika Srpska passed a draft of the new constitution in March, which would define the entity as a state of the Serb people, give it the right to self-determination and establish its own army.

All of these directly contradict the Bosnian Constitution and the Dayton Peace Agreement, which defined Republika Srpska as one of Bosnia's two entities.

The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared these laws unconstitutional.

Këto veprime të Republikës Sërpska janë dënuar pothuajse në mbarë botën, nga sekretari amerikan i shtetit Marko Rubio, te shefi i NATO-s Mark Rutte dhe disa ambasada të huaja në Bosnje e Hercegovinë.

Sipas Kushtetutës së Bosnje e Hercegovinës, Republika Sërpska dhe Federata Boshnjako-Kroate janë entitete e që përbëjnë Bosnjën dhe ato nuk gëzojnë kompetencat e shtetit. Prandaj, sovraniteti dhe integriteti territorial janë të rezervuara vetëm për shtetin e Bosnje e Hercegovinës dhe jo për entitetet e saj.

Gjatë mandatit të tij si president i Republikës Sërpska, Dodik është përballur me kritika për prirje autoritare, minimin e institucioneve demokratike dhe krijimin e një kulture të patronazhit politik./REL