BOSNIA - RSNA SPECIAL SESSION CONCLUSIONS

UNCLAS SARAJEVO 002392 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR (DICARLO),EUR/SCE (HOH/FOOKS),NSC FOR BRAUN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV BK SUBJECT: BOSNIA - RSNA SPECIAL SESSION CONCLUSIONS REF: SARAJEVO 2313 ¶1. (SBU) On the evening of November 5 the Republika Srpska National Assembly (RSNA) resumed the special session previously adjourned on October 29. The session, which had been postponed several times throughout the day while talks between OHR lawyers and RS officials continued, met for approximately fifteen minutes to pass a five-part nonbinding resolution or "conclusion." The only remarks at the sesison came from RSNA Speaker Igor Radojicic who took the floor to note that, despite the passage of the current set of conslusions, the special session would resume after legal talks between OHR and the RS government concluded. Radojicic instructed SNSD deputes to continue work on resolutions addessing the Bonn Powers and the transfers of RS competencies to the state. Radojicic read the proposed five conclusions which the deputies adopted by majority vote without debate. Only the six Bosniak deputies voted against the conclusions. ¶2. (U) The five point RSNA conclusions are summarized below: -- The RSNA expresses understanding of decision by PM Spiric to tender his resignation, as an act of rejection of the High Representative's decisions. The RSNA assesses that this was the Chairman's only option given attempts to significantly change the procedures of the Council of Ministers. -- Assessing that there has been no practical progress to date in addressing RS objections to the High Representative's measures, the RSNA resolves that the 5th special session adjourns until further notice. -- Until the present crisis is resolved, the conditions for ordinary work of BiH Parliamentary Assembly are not met. The RSNA therefore calls for both chambers of state Parliament to refrain from new sessions while negotiations are ongoing. -- The RSNA calls on state institutions to establish internal relations in good faith and refrain from attempts to outvote any of the constituent peoples or either of the two equal entities, even if imposed procedures allow them such possibility under the current circumstances. The RSNA cannot accept even the theoretical possibility that representatives of one constituent people or one entity can be outvoted, and is ready to use all legal and democratic means in case such situation occurs. -- The RSNA requests the RS delegates to the state House of Peoples, who were appointed by the RSNA, not to accept new decisions under the existing circumstance. If the High Representative's measures are imposed RS delegates do not have the mandate to give legitimacy to one-sided and detrimental decisions in the House of Peoples. Comment -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The RSNA conclusions stopped short of adopting the problematic resolutions that had been discussed at previous sessions including a call for a withdrawal from the state government and a rejection of the legitimacy of the Bonn Powers. SNSD leadership has evidently decided to await the outcome of legal talks between OHR and RS experts before broaching these provotative steps. Nonetheless, the Radojiic comments and the second conclusion make clear that the RSNA intends to pursue these steps if the OHR-RS talks do not satisfy its concerns. END COMMENT ENGLISH