Bosnia descends into fresh political crisis

The previously agreed police reform deal in Bosnia-Herzegovina has fallen through, reports from Sarajevo say today. Republic of Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik proposed that the implementation of the police reforms be continued without the Bosniak Democratic Action Party (SDA), whose leader Sulejman Tihic rejected the earlier agreed upon declaration regarding the reforms. Bosnia descends into fresh political crisis After a failed meeting of party leaders of the ruling coalition this weekend, Bosnia-Herzegovina has taken a drastic step backwards from signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, reports from Sarajevo suggest. “Someone probably encouraged Tihic to get out of the agreement, wishing to stop the process of signing the SAA,” Dodik was vague in his statement to reporters. Tihic, however, commented that "such serious questions cannot be considered without his party." Believing that the principles of the police reform are "not that same ones that were proposed at the end of last year," Tihic entered a direct conflict with the international community, Haris Silajdzic and Dodik, at the same time saying that he "will not compromise on his stance." “Dodik has been holding this country in an emergency situation for a year and a half, in a situation of blockades and ultimatums. His proposal is to continue work without the SDA, so let him try. I think it is about time someone told Dodik that enough is enough,” Tihic said. Continuing the police reforms without SDA would be a dangerous political precedent and a question of whether Silajdzic, despite his conflict with Tihic, is prepared for such a political adventure. Therefore, all progress made in the police reforms has unraveled over night. High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Miroslav Lajcak, accused Tihic of endangering the European perspective of the country, stating that his qualms with the police reform are based on petty political calculations. "Tihic must know that his actions go against what not only the European Union, but most Bosnia-Herzegovina citizens, expect,” Lajcak said. The European Commission official responsible for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dirk Lange, said that the draft for the police reforms has to be submitted no later than February 15, adding that it is the most important condition for signing the SAA. “If the process is delayed, the signing will be delayed as well. There is no doubt about that,” Lange was quoted.

Bosnia descends into fresh political crisis

After a failed meeting of party leaders of the ruling coalition this weekend, Bosnia-Herzegovina has taken a drastic step backwards from signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, reports from Sarajevo suggest.

“Someone probably encouraged Tihić to get out of the agreement, wishing to stop the process of signing the SAA,” Dodik was vague in his statement to reporters.

Tihić, however, commented that "such serious questions cannot be considered without his party."

Believing that the principles of the police reform are "not that same ones that were proposed at the end of last year," Tihić entered a direct conflict with the international community, Haris Silajdžić and Dodik, at the same time saying that he "will not compromise on his stance."

“Dodik has been holding this country in an emergency situation for a year and a half, in a situation of blockades and ultimatums. His proposal is to continue work without the SDA, so let him try. I think it is about time someone told Dodik that enough is enough,” Tihić said.

Continuing the police reforms without SDA would be a dangerous political precedent and a question of whether Silajdžić, despite his conflict with Tihić, is prepared for such a political adventure.

Therefore, all progress made in the police reforms has unraveled over night.

High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Miroslav Lajčak, accused Tihić of endangering the European perspective of the country, stating that his qualms with the police reform are based on petty political calculations.

"Tihić must know that his actions go against what not only the European Union, but most Bosnia-Herzegovina citizens, expect,” Lajčak said.

The European Commission official responsible for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dirk Lange, said that the draft for the police reforms has to be submitted no later than February 15, adding that it is the most important condition for signing the SAA.

“If the process is delayed, the signing will be delayed as well. There is no doubt about that,” Lange was quoted.