US warns Bosnian Serbs over political boycott

[Marcus Marulus]

International News

US warns Bosnian Serbs over political boycott

Published Date: October 28, 2007

SARAJEVO: The United States threatened action against Bosnian Serbs who have threatened to quit Bosnia's central government in protest at moves to streamline decision-making. But the warning by the US ambassador to Bosnia, Charles English, was dismissed as "insolent threats" by Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik.

Continuing down this path of confrontation will bring a swift and strong reaction from the United States," ambassador English told local media.
It is their obligation to back away from an avoidable confrontation. We will view a decision to walk out of state institutions as unnecessary provocation," he added.

The new dispute between the rival communities in Bosnia has erupted over measures proposed by international High Representative to Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak, to stop rival ethnic camps blocking new laws by making it easier to pass decisions. Since the end of the 1992-1995 war, Bosnia has been split into the Serb majority Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation. Linked by weak central institutions, each has its own government, parliament and police.

The Bosnian Serb ruling Union of Independent Social-Democrats has threatened to resign en masse from the central assembly, blocking the government, unless Lajcak backs down from the reforms. "A confrontation with the high representative is a confrontation with the United States," stressed English.

But the Bosnian Serb prime minister said his government "will not accept such insolent threats from the US ambassador.

This is not where yes-men of the international community live, even if it is the United States. We provoked no confrontation," Dodik told state television.


Dodik said he was "ready for possible sanctions" but added: "They must know there will be no backing down." The weak central government has nine ministers and a prime minister. The ministerial portfolios are equally distributed between the main ethnic groups-Croats, Muslims and Serbs.

The presence of at least one representative of each community is required for laws to be adopted. Under Lajcak's proposals to avoid obstruction through absenteeism, the government would be able to hold sessions in the presence of six ministers and operate with a simple majority. The changes would allow Muslim and Croat ministers to submit motions to parliament without the approval of Serb counterparts who strongly oppose the strengthening of Bosnia's central institutions. - AFP

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