The European Union on Tuesday reaffirmed its strong support for the sovereignty, constitutional order and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina following remarks by Banja Luka Mayor Draško Stanivuković suggesting unity between Republika Srpska and Serbia.
Ahead of the Serbian Day of Unity, Freedom and the National Flag, Stanivuković wrote on Facebook that “Republika Srpska and Serbia are one.”
“One people and one flag. Unity, harmony and freedom are sacred Serbian words that we should strive for endlessly, until the ultimate goal,” Stanivuković said.
The EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina stressed that unilateral calls for changes to the country’s constitutional framework — including through secession, redrawing borders, integration with neighboring states or the abolition of entities — are incompatible with the Dayton Peace Agreement and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path.
“The EU strongly supports the sovereignty, constitutional order and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the bloc said.
It urged political leaders to refrain from divisive and provocative rhetoric and to respect Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitution.
The EU also called for public debate, particularly during election campaigns, to focus on citizens’ concerns, including improving socioeconomic and environmental conditions and advancing reforms in the rule of law and democracy required for progress toward EU membership.
The Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina also responded to Stanivuković’s remarks.
The OHR said unilateral calls for the abolition of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entities, as well as calls for secession, independence or unification with another state, are contrary to the country’s constitutional framework established by the Dayton Peace Agreement.
In a September 14 statement, the OHR warned that citizens should not be misled by promises that cannot be fulfilled and that their emotions and fears should not be exploited for political gain.
“Political leaders must respect the Constitution and refrain from inflammatory rhetoric. Instead, they should focus on addressing the real needs of citizens,” the OHR said.
The OSCE Mission said political rhetoric that questions the existence of Bosnia and Herzegovina or any of its entities is inconsistent with the Dayton Peace Agreement.
The Serbian Day of Unity, Freedom and the National Flag has been celebrated since 2020 under an agreement between the leaderships of Serbia and Republika Srpska. The date commemorates the breakthrough of the Salonika Front in 1918 during World War I.
The latest statements come amid persistent political tensions over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitutional order, with international officials continuing to warn against rhetoric that challenges the country’s territorial integrity or promotes separatism.
