The High Representative should react to the decision by the RS government to verify the accuracy and truthfulness of data in determining residency in that BiH entity, said Bakir Izetbegovic, chair of the BiH Presidency, Zeljko Komsic, member of the BiH Presidency, and Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija, today in a press conference in Sarajevo.
“I expect that the High Representative will finally act and start to respond to such things. I think that his passivity to some degree even encouraged going into things that are both unconstitutional and illegal and contrary to Annex 7 of the Dayton Accord,” said Izetbegovic.
He called on authorities in RS to not make such decisions, the police to not enact such decisions, and returnees to maintain the law.
“Let them show just what is obliged by state law, and that is an ID card, some identifying document – all else is not necessary to show,” said Izetbegovic.
Komsic said that this decision did not surprise him, because he believes that the RS government and authorities in that entity will do everything to prevent the registration of returnees.
Lagumdzija said it is clear that this is about destroying Dayton and the constitutional responsibilities, and that the law on residency is exclusively at state jurisdiction.
“By the same logic, the state parliament could adopt a law on primary and secondary education and ignore the cantons and entities. However, this would not be in accordance with the Constitution,” explained Lagumdzija.
He added that it is “perfectly clear that this law has no legal basis.”
“I hope that the High Representative will recognize what this is about, because I fear that we are entering an atmosphere in which practically everything will be permissible, or that the Constitution will be thrown under foot, and that means throwing the Dayton Peace Accord under foot,” said Lagumdzija, commenting on the RS government’s decision to verify accuracy and truthfulness of data in establishing residency on the territory of Republika Srpska, in which it is stated that it is premature until the law regulating this field is adopted. (Oslobodjenje.ba)
