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
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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