The United States Embassy is alarmed at the direction in which this planned referendum is taking the Republika Srpska as an entity, and the threat it poses to the security, stability, and prosperity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We oppose this referendum and any preparation for it as as a violation of the Dayton Peace Accords, and because we fear the repercussions it will have for the people in the RS and for BiH as a whole. We are engaging relevant U.S. government departments and agencies to determine an appropriate response to those responsible for creating this political provocation. We are in close coordination with the EU Mission and OHR on next steps.
We are encouraged to see legitimate debate emerge within the RS on the roots of this political maneuver and the motivations that underlie it. This honest discourse on the disconnect between the corrupt forces driving decision-making in the RS and what is truly in the best interest of its people is indicative of the vibrant, transparent democracy BiH could and should be.
Nothing good can come of this referendum. The future of this country and all of its citizens lies with continued integration with the European Union. That objective is clearly attainable, and we want to work with the people of the RS to improve their quality of life by making it a reality. It is now up to the entity’s leadership to choose between progress, or political and economic isolation.
