Bosnia marks statehood day, Serb entity ignores it

BANJA LUKA Monday is Statehood Day in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but the day is marked as a holiday only in the Muslim-Croat Federation (FBiH) entity. In the country's other entity, the Serb Republic (RS), the holiday is ignored, while officials are sending a message that "neither day, nor date of statehood of Bosnia- Herzegovina exists." Bosnia marks statehood day, Serb entity ignores it The holiday commemorates a meeting in Mrkonjic Grad during the Second World War of the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (ZAVNOBiH), where, as is considered in Sarajevo, the statehood of Bosnia-Herzegovina was "restored." The RS marked its Statehood Day on November 21, the date when the Dayton peace agreement was initialed, paving the way for the establishment of the entity. The Serb entity will also mark January 9 as its day, to commemorate the 1992 declaration of then leader of Serbs in Bosnia Radovan Karadzic that "the Serb Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina" had been set up. RS President Milorad Dodik has said that "on the level of Bosnia-Herzegovina, there is no day or date of statehood and therefore ZAVNOBiH Day cannot be marked as Statehood Day." In an open letter to EU representative Representative Valentin Inzko, Dodik pointed out that the high representative and other representatives of the international community with their presence "gave importance to a non-existent holiday, entitled, Statehood Day of Bosnia-Herzegovina." Dodik said that any attempt to establish such a holiday was "anti-Dayton." The president noted that the Dayton agreement clearly stipulated that "the Dayton Bosnia-Herzegovina" continued to exist in accordance with its internal structure, which was determined by the agreement, and, therefore, any unilateral attempt by Sarajevo to be the successor of holidays and events of the former Yugoslavia was "irregular and impossible for the whole of Bosnia-Herzegovia." He said that the RS had no objection to the Federation celebrating this day as a holiday, but that "it will never be that" in the Serb entity. Dodik also stated in the letter that, "as far as he was aware," there was no decision of a relevant authority of the Dayton Bosnia-Herzegovina, "which had to be passed after the signing of the Dayton Agreement in order to confirm that Statehood Day of Bosnia-Herzegovina existed." A view of Sarajevo (sxc.hu, stock) Tanjug

Bosnia marks statehood day, Serb entity ignores it

The holiday commemorates a meeting in Mrkonjić Grad during the Second World War of the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (ZAVNOBiH), where, as is considered in Sarajevo, the statehood of Bosnia-Herzegovina was "restored."

The RS marked its Statehood Day on November 21, the date when the Dayton peace agreement was initialed, paving the way for the establishment of the entity.

The Serb entity will also mark January 9 as its day, to commemorate the 1992 declaration of then leader of Serbs in Bosnia Radovan Karadžić that "the Serb Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina" had been set up.

RS President Milorad Dodik has said that "on the level of Bosnia-Herzegovina, there is no day or date of statehood and therefore ZAVNOBiH Day cannot be marked as Statehood Day."

In an open letter to EU representative Representative Valentin Inzko, Dodik pointed out that the high representative and other representatives of the international community with their presence "gave importance to a non-existent holiday, entitled, Statehood Day of Bosnia-Herzegovina."

Dodik said that any attempt to establish such a holiday was "anti-Dayton."

The president noted that the Dayton agreement clearly stipulated that "the Dayton Bosnia-Herzegovina" continued to exist in accordance with its internal structure, which was determined by the agreement, and, therefore, any unilateral attempt by Sarajevo to be the successor of holidays and events of the former Yugoslavia was "irregular and impossible for the whole of Bosnia-Herzegovia."

He said that the RS had no objection to the Federation celebrating this day as a holiday, but that "it will never be that" in the Serb entity.

Dodik also stated in the letter that, "as far as he was aware," there was no decision of a relevant authority of the Dayton Bosnia-Herzegovina, "which had to be passed after the signing of the Dayton Agreement in order to confirm that Statehood Day of Bosnia-Herzegovina existed."