US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US is considering various options regarding the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but stressed that "it is clear that the disintegration of the country and a new conflict should not occur."
"We don't want any division there... The last thing we need is another crisis, and we've already expressed our opinion on that," Rubio said in a statement to Voice of America, when asked to comment on his previous statement that "the actions of the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, undermine the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and endanger its security and stability."
The authorities of Republika Srpska, led by Dodik, have threatened secession and attempted to stop the functioning of state justice and police institutions on the territory of this entity.
"In terms of possible future actions, we are considering different options, but what is absolutely clear - despite the possibility of differences between us - is that this situation (in Bosnia and Herzegovina) should not lead to the disintegration of the country, nor lead to a new conflict," Rubio said.
The US Secretary of State expressed hope that the US could do something to "avoid the start of another conflict in Europe".
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Monday in Sarajevo that the alliance will not allow the peace it has achieved to be jeopardized in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a security vacuum to be created in the country.
"Of course, I am concerned about the security situation, but this is not 1992 and we will not allow a security vacuum to be created. I know that EUFOR is fully committed to maintaining a stable security environment. We will not allow the peace we have achieved to be jeopardized," said Rute.
Earlier, the RS Assembly adopted a law banning the activities of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) of BiH, the Court and Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, which is responsible for appointing all judges and prosecutors in the country.
The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has issued a temporary injunction and suspended the implementation of the law adopted by the RS People's Assembly on 27 February, a day after the President of RS, Milorad Dodik, was sentenced by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to one year in prison and a six-year ban on holding office. This is a first-instance sentence, against which Dodik has the possibility to appeal.
He was found guilty of disobeying the decisions of the High Representative, Christian Schmidt, and of signing the decree promulgating laws that Schmidt had previously annulled, which were intended to prevent the implementation of decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the High Representative on the territory of the RS.
NATO has reiterated several times that this military-political organization supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that it will not allow a security vacuum or jeopardize the hard-won peace.
The European Union Force (EUFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina announced on March 7 that it would temporarily increase the number of its troops as a preventive measure, following rising tensions in the country. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
