European Forum

Rafi Gregorian: “no political will do deal with Dodik”

The former Deputy High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Raffi Gregorian, claimed that there is no political will among the international community to deal with Milorad Dodik, the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska (RS). According to Gregorian, the members of the Peace and Implementation Council (PIC, consisting of 55 countries and agencies that support the peace process in BiH), which is assigned with overseeing the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreements (DPA), can not agree on the measures to be taken against Dodik.

On several occasions the Office of the High Representative (OHR) had pointed out that Dodik
was violating the DPA by interfering with the judiciary and denying that genocide had been committed in Srebrenica. However, not only did the OHR not get political support it needed for its actions, but PIC members gave opposite statements, sending mixed signals and sometimes acting against OHR, Gregorian said. The disagreement among the PIC members has created a situation which suites Dodik the best. Gregorian: “If I am Dodik, I would be very happy with this kind of situation”.

The OHR has a mandate to overlook implementation of the DPA and has ultimate power in BiH, including imposing laws and sacking politicians from their positions. However, every decision made by the High Representative has to be confirmed by PIC. Rafi Gregorian has left BiH, after spending 10 years in different high level positions, from NATO representative in the country to Deputy High Representative and Supervisor for Brčko District.

EU to take control in BiH
In related news, on 27 July it has been announced that Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is planning the creation of a powerful European envoy in BiH to push through constitutional reforms in the country. To overcome blocking of political reforms, the EU envoy would be given new powers by the Council of EU Foreign Ministers to impose travel bans and asset freezes on opponents. The approach would prepare the EU to take over the leading international role in BiH, according to the plan.

Source: BIRN and the Telegraph