Bosnian Serbs to Hold Referendum on State Courts

The assembly of Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity, Republika Srpska, has voted on Wednesday to hold a referendum on confidence in the country's state justice system and in the authority of High Representative to Bosnia.

Out of 76 deputies present, 45 voted in favor while 31 abstained. The referendum will be held in mid-September.

 Voters will be asked whether they support the "anti-constitutional and unauthorized laws imposed by the High Representative of the international community, especially the laws imposed relating to the Court and the Prosecutor's office of Bosnia and Herzegovina".

"I guarantee that the referendum will be held and conducted," President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik said after the vote.

In his introductory speech when he proposed the decision to the assembly, he explained the importance of the referendum for the entity.

 "This is about whether we are going to go the way of preserving the constitution and defending our international right, or the way of degrading Republika Srpska," Dodik said.

The Bosnian Serb President said they sought no more than "respect for the Dayton Peace Accords and the clear distinction between the constitutional authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska".

During his assembly speech, Dodik spoke also about the cost of state institutions, saying they cost Republika Srpska millions of euro but worked against the constitutional position of Republika Srpska. He criticized the international community for its involvement in this.

Arguing that the state judiciary was against the interests of Republika Srpska, Dodik said that the department for war crimes focused mainly on trying Serbs.

Dodik said that while the state...