Inzko 'Postpones' Decision on Bosnian Serb Referendum

Bosnia's top international figure, High Representative Valentin Inzko, will not deliver a decision on the controversial referendum until next week, a source within the Peace Implementation Council, the body charged with supervising Bosnia's 1995 Dayton peace deal, told Balkan Insight on condition of anonymity.

Inzko said previously that he will suspend any decision to call a referendum on the state court and prosecutor if the Bosnian Serb entity, the Republika Srpska, does not do so itself, but has now given Serb authorities "another chance" to withdraw the decision on the vote.

The high representative will meet UN officials in New York on Monday, May 9, while talks with as yet unnamed US officials are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Thursday, May 12, Inzko will decide whether or not to annul the planned referendum, the source said.

Inzko stated earlier this week that he would reveal his decision on the referendum at today's meeting of the Peace Implementation Council, PIC.

Following the meeting today, an official from Inzko's office told Balkan Insight that their position on the referendum was clear.

He said that Bosnia's entities do not have the constitutional right to challenge a state institution, including the court, and emphasised that the High Representative's stance had not changed.

"Either RS will withdraw their decision or he will have to act soon," the official told Balkan Insight.

The National Assembly of Republika Srpska on April 13 voted to call the referendum, challenging the decisions imposed by the High Representative and the existence of state court and state prosecutor.

According to that decision, published in the Serb entity’s Official Gazette last week, the referendum would be held in the first half of June.

It appears unlikely that Serb leaders will choose to repeal the referendum decision, and they have warned that they will respond "adequately" if Inzko uses his powers to annul the vote.

The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik said on Wednesday that the National Assembly cannot and will not withdraw its decision to hold a referendum on the Court and Prosecutor's Office and the imposed decisions of the High Representative in BiH.

Lazar Prodanovic, a deputy in Bosnia’s state parliament, and a member of the SNSD, told Balkan Insight that the party would "surely make some kind of response to Inzko's decision" but wouldn't speculate on what concrete action they were planning.

On Wednesday, media in the Republika Srpska quoted anonymous sources as saying that Bosnian Serb officials planned to quit all state bodies if Inzko tries to penalise Bosnian Serb leaders.

"I hope Inzko will not try to cancel the National Assembly's decision. We'll wait for the Peace Implementation Council session and for Inzko's final decision first, but I am convinced our response will be adequate," Prodanovic told Balkan Insight.

Sredoje Novic, Bosnia's Minister of Civil Affairs, also a member of the SNSD, told Balkan Insight yesterday that he would withdraw from his post if asked to do so.

EU representatives, meanwhile, have condemned moves to hold a referendum in Republika Srpska.

A Counsellor in the European External Action Service, Robert Cooperer, on Tuesday in Brussels, speaking after talks with Republika Srpska Assembly speaker Igor Radojicic, said the EU had no sympathy for the referendum idea.