SARAJEVO

The head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe warned Tuesday that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s stability is at risk.

Elina Valtonen, who is the chairperson-in-office of the group and Finland’s foreign minister, said she is “deeply concerned” about the “unconstitutional decisions” of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik.

Dodik, the leader of the Serb-majority entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, has faced growing international criticism for moves seen as undermining the country’s constitutional framework.

In recent months, his government passed laws effectively blocking the authority of key state institutions, including the judiciary and law enforcement, within the entity. The decisions were widely condemned and later annulled by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitutional court.

Dodik has continued, however, to challenge the authority of state institutions, insisting that Republika Srpska has the right to govern itself without interference from Sarajevo.

Valtonen met with Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic to discuss the escalating political crisis during her visit to Sarajevo. At a joint news conference, she warned that Dodik’s actions could further destabilize the country and urged political leaders to respect the constitutional framework.

“The current crisis, Dodik’s unconstitutional decisions, deeply concerns me. This crisis weakens the constitution and poses a threat to fundamental freedoms. I call on all political leaders to respect the constitutional framework and refrain from actions that could further destabilize the country,” she said.

Valtonen emphasized that the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the Bosnia War, remains vital to the nation’s stability and security and that constructive dialogue is essential for progress.

-State institutions continue to function despite political crisis

Konakovic also addressed the crisis and an arrest warrant against Dodik on charges of threatening the constitutional order. He urged security institutions to follow legal procedures in handling the case.

He also expressed skepticism about dialogue with Dodik.

“I fully agree that dialogue is currently the most needed thing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, such dialogue should be held among rational individuals, not with madmen and terrorists. Dodik is a man who attacks his own people -- he harms anyone who does not share his views,” he said.

Konakovic described the situation as one of the country’s most severe crises but said state institutions continue to function.

He defended the decision not to send security forces to arrest Dodik in Republika Srpska, citing the presence of thousands of the entity’s armed police officers as a significant risk factor.

“Such an action could lead to clashes and unnecessary bloodshed, and innocent children could lose their lives. Dodik is now preoccupied with plans -- should he go to Israel, how should he bypass controls at Banja Luka Airport, and how can he exert pressure on the authorities there?” he said.

- A proposed Constitution for local army

The court of Bosnia and Herzegovina recently sentenced Dodik to one year in prison and banned him from political activity for six years because of his refusal to recognize decisions by the Office of the High Representative.

Following the ruling, the National Assembly of Republika Srpska swiftly voted to ban the activities of several state institutions.

Dodik, who is wanted for arrest, has declared that he would not respond to court or prosecutorial summonses and would be protected by local police.

Local media have called the decisions an attempted coup, and the country’s constitutional court has already annulled them.

Despite warnings from the international community, Dodik has continued his separatist agenda, recently stating that his government is discussing a new Constitution for Republika Srpska.

The proposed Constitution reportedly includes controversial clauses on the region’s right to self-determination and the establishment of a local army, raising further concerns about separatist intentions.

Opposition lawmakers in Republika Srpska have strongly criticized the initiative, arguing that it endangers the future of the entity.