Escalation in Bosnia-Herzegovina triggered by external players’ steps - Russia’s UN envoy - TASS

Russia believes that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is escalating due to the irresponsible actions of certain external players, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said at the UN Security Council’s session on Wednesday.

"We are concerned about another escalation of the internal political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has become unprecedented in the entire post-war period. The situation is being aggravated by the irresponsible actions of some external forces. As a result, all the achievements of the years-long and arduous process of interethnic reconciliation are in severe jeopardy," the ambassador said.

"Russia, as a guarantors of the Dayton Accords, cannot remain indifferent to what is going on," he added.

Moscow warns against attempts to blame developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina only on the Serbs, Nebenzya said.

"Pressure on the Serb entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina is rapidly growing. We would like to warn against misinterpreting things and blaming developments in the country only on the Serbs," he pointed out.

"We are confident that it is the duly elected government bodies that should be fully responsible for what is happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina based on their powers," the Russian envoy noted. Nebenzya also emphasized that "imposing external practices and appointing special envoys on the issue is counterproductive and can only complicate things."

On July 23, then EU High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Valentin Inzko imposed a law against genocide denial and glorification of war crimes and criminals with regard to the 1995 Srebrenica events. The leadership of Republika Srpska (an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina) announced that it would not participate in the activities of the country's governing bodies in protest.

• Idea of turning Bosnia and Herzegovina into a unitary state

Moscow believes that attempts to promote the idea of turning Bosnia and Herzegovina into a unitary state run counter to the principle of equality of the country's three peoples, Nebenzya said.

"Persistent attempts by a number of Bosnian actors and external forces to promote the idea of turning the country into a unitary state run counter to the principle of equality of the three peoples and two entities with broad constitutional powers," he emphasized.

"We believe that we need - no matter where, in Sarajevo, New York or other capitals - a substantive and equal conversation based on the interests of the entire BiH society and the region to discuss practical ways to dismantle the harmful mechanism of external patronage over Bosnia and Herzegovina and provide constructive assistance in the national reconciliation process," he pointed out.

According to Nebenzya, as a guarantor of the Dayton Agreement, Russia is confident that there is no alternative to it and the proposed balance of interests of the three peoples is quite effective." "Attempts to destroy it are fraught with serious consequences for the Balkans and Europe in general," the Russian envoy warned. He noted that Russia would continue to support "the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the equality of the three constituent peoples and two entities with a broad mandate."

The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Dayton Agreement) was reached in Dayton, United States, on November 1, 1995, and signed in Paris on December 14, 1995. In accordance with a constitution proposed in the Dayton Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina is made up of two primary entities: the Muslim-Croatian Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (51% of the territory) and Republika Srpska (49% of the territory), as well as of the Brcko District. Three main peoples - the Bosniaks (Slavs converted to Islam), the Serbs (Orthodox) and the Croatians (Catholics) - are represented proportionally in the government.