SARAJEVO, Dec 14 (Hina) - The Muslim and Serb members of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sulejman Tihic and Mirko Sarovic respectively, have clashed over Tihic's recent statement that he would initiate procedure to change the
name and symbols of Republika Srpska.
SARAJEVO, Dec 14 (Hina) - The Muslim and Serb members of the
Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sulejman Tihic and Mirko Sarovic
respectively, have clashed over Tihic's recent statement that he
would initiate procedure to change the name and symbols of
Republika Srpska. #L#
In a statement he gave to the radio station "Free Europe" on Friday,
Tihic said that he would initiate procedure before the country's
constitutional court with the purpose of annulling the current name
of Republika Srpska and its coat-of-arms and anthem. Tihic says
that his request is based on changes to the state constitution and
the constitutions of the two entities adopted earlier this year,
which guarantee the equality of all three constituent peoples
throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"The entity (Republika Srpska) should be called the Serb, Bosniak
and Croat entity at least. Perhaps a more neutral name, which will
not include the national component, would be better," Tihic said.
The change of entity symbols is necessary, too, because in the case
of Republika Srpska they only represent one people, Tihic says.
Commenting on Tihic's claims, a former president of Republika
Srpska and incumbent chairman of the Bosnian Presidency, Mirko
Sarovic, said it could only cause new problems. Republika Srpska,
he believes, is a firm Dayton category and cannot be changed, except
if one wants to open a debate on the entire peace agreement, signed
in 1995.
"Anyway, why would not Republika Srpska bear the name of the most
numerous people living there?," Sarovic said.
He also denied the existence of legal grounds for initiating
proceedings before the Constitutional Court, adding that there was
no chance the Presidency would back Tihic's proposal.
The war of words between Tihic and Sarovic has put an end, in less
than a month, to an illusion of idyllic relations in the state
leadership, which was elected in October. It also bears witness to
the fact that national party leaders have completely opposed views
with regard to major issues, which will significantly obstruct
their solution in the future.
(hina) rml