Bosnian Serbs protest against "dictatorial" envoy

[Marulus]

Bosnian Serbs protest against "dictatorial" envoy

Mon Oct 29, 2007

By Olja Stanic

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia (Reuters) - Ten thousand Bosnian Serbs and their political leaders protested on Monday against what they called "dictatorial" and "unnecessary" meddling by Bosnia's powerful international peace envoy, Miroslav Lajčak.


Bosnian Serbs hold placards and a poster of Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a protest in Banja Luka October 29, 2007. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj



Bosnia's Serb republic Prime Minister Milorad Dodik (R) listens to international peace overseer Miroslav Lajcak after a meeting of the country's top leaders in Mostar October 28, 2007. Ten thousand Bosnian Serbs and their political leaders protested on Monday against what they called "dictatorial" and "unnecessary" meddling by Lajcak. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj


Lajčak said he wanted to unblock reforms that have stalled for years because of inter-ethnic bickering, by imposing legislation to streamline voting in Bosnia's central government.

But the Serb Republic, the semi-autonomous Serb half of Bosnia, said it chips away at their rights and could mean they are outvoted by the other half, the Muslim-Croat federation.

The two entities, created at the end of the 1992-95 war in Bosnia, view each other with suspicion and occasional hostility.

"We view this as deceit," Serb Republic Prime Minister Milorad Dodik told protesters in the city of Banja Luka.

Banners at the protest read "Lajcak dictator" and "I give up Bosnia for the Serb Republic", illustrating the Bosnian Serbs' defiant attitude towards the reforms, which the European Union says are crucial if Bosnia is to progress towards EU membership.

Many protesters carried posters of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom they see as an ally for backing Serbia in its efforts to block a Western-sponsored plan to give independence to Kosovo.

The declaration showed how unpopular Lajcak's post at the Office of the High Representative is among Bosnian Serbs, who resent its powers to impose laws and sack officials.

Lajčak's ruling reduced the minimum number of ministers needed to be present when the central government passes laws, meaning that no ethnic group can create a deadlock by simply walking out.

Lajčak also ordered parliament to change its voting procedures by December 1 along similar lines, otherwise he will go ahead and impose them.

Bosnian Serb politicians complained the changes would allow a Muslim majority in parliament to outvote them and threatened to walk out of their posts.

Lajčak said he would not withdraw his ruling, which was "fully in line with the constitution ... and does not undermine in any manner the position of any entity or constituent peoples".

"If, in spite of this, tensions needlessly escalate then this is the choice of the Serb Republic leadership, and it is they who will be clearly to blame for the consequences," his office said in a statement.

The EU vowed to stand by Lajcak and not let Bosnia sign a key association accord until the reforms have passed.

(additional reporting by Maja Zuvela)

© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.

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