On Wednesday, the ultimate Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced the president of the Serbian Republic, Milord Dodik, to a year in prison and a ban on public office for six years. The conviction came due to his overt disregard of the UN advanced Representative's decision, Christian Schmidt, who oversees the peace process after the civilian War in the Balkans.
Dodik, known for his nationalist rhetoric and actions undermining the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina over the Serbian Republic, immediately rejected the sentence, calling it "nonsens" and "political process". alternatively of submitting to the decision of the court, he publically stated that he did not accept this verdict and did not intend to follow it. This message warmed up tensions in a country which has remained politically unstable and divided into rival national communities since the end of the war in the 1990s.
Dodik's conviction could have serious consequences. The Serbian Republic has begun to take action to reject the decision of the Sarajevo court, which could lead to an escalation of the political crisis and even the state's disintegration. Concerns about the emergence in cultural tensions are all the more justified as Serbia, the chief ally of the Republic of Serbia, responded to the conviction immediately by convening the National safety Council. Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vučić, described the court's decision as a "attack on the full Serbian nation" and called for global negotiations to prevent the escalation of the conflict.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – a country created by the war
Bosnia and Herzegovina is simply a country that arose on the ruins of the erstwhile Yugoslavia, as a consequence of the bloody conflict from 1992 to 1995. The war was the consequence of the collapse of Yugoslavia and cultural rivalry between the 3 main national groups: Boszniaks (Muslims), Serbs and Croats. The battles, which included, among others, the siege of Sarajevo and the genocide in Srebrenica, resulted in the signing of a peace agreement in Dayton in 1995.
The Dayton Treaty established a unique political structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina, dividing the country into: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly inhabited by Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic of Serbia, controlled by the Serbs. Both units have broad autonomy and function as separate states, but are merged by weak central institutions. There is inactive a tiny self-government administrative unit – the territory of Brczko, but it does not play a crucial function in principle. The state is headed by a three-member Presidency, representing each cultural group, and the full is supervised by the advanced Representative, appointed by the global community.
Political and cultural problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina has faced many political and cultural problems since its inception. The main challenges are:
- political paralysis – an cultural divide strategy makes it hard to make decisions at national level. Government reforms and actions are frequently blocked by representatives of 1 of the 3 groups.
- separatistism of the Republic of Serbia – for years, the authorities of the Republic of Serbia, led by Milord Dodik, have sought greater independency and even separation from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- ethnic tensions – relations between Bosnians, Serbs and Croats stay tense and common distrust hinders the integration of the country.
- dependency on the global community – the country is inactive under the supervision of the advanced Representative, which raises discontent among politicians, especially Serbian.
- economic problems – advanced unemployment, corruption and deficiency of investment hamper the improvement of the country.
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina on the verge of falling apart?
The conviction on Milord Dodik may be a catalyst for further destabilisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. His decision to reject the judgement of the central court and the threat of taking action against Sarajevo may lead to the state's actual disintegration. The Serbian Republic may effort to separate from Bosnia, which would trigger not only a political crisis, but besides a possibly fresh armed conflict.
Currently, the situation remains tense. Bosnia and Herzegovina, alternatively of seeking integration with the European Union and modernisation of the state, is one more time struggling with the threat of decay and deepening divisions. It all depends on how the global community and Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian politicians will cope with the increasing crisis.
