The High Representative was commenting on an increasing number of statements by Bosnian Serb leaders that they would organise a referendum on the secession of the Bosnian Serb entity from Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Last week I very clearly warned, both verbally and in writing, Republika Srpska Premier Milorad Dodik and other officials in Republika Srpska that a referendum is impossible. But the international community does not want to make public the content of those warnings so that the Republika Srpska leaders would not become victims or heroes, which would favour them in the forthcoming election campaign for elections scheduled for this October, Schwarz-Schilling said.
He added that the warnings to the Bosnian Serb leadership were energetic, dismissing remarks about lukewarm responses from the international community to frequent public calls for a referendum on the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia-Herzegovina.