SARAJEVO/BANJA LUKA, Oct 10 (Hina) - The parliament of Republika Srpska (RS), Bosnia's Serb entity, on Sunday proclaimed as invalid Bosnia's suit against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on charges of aggression and genocide, with
the explanation that the suit, initiated in 1993, was contrary to the vital interests of the RS. The RS parliament convened in Banja Luka on Sunday for an extraordinary session called by Zivko Radisic, the Serb member in Bosnia's collective Presidency, and disputed the legal foundation of the suit the former Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina filed at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The Bosnian Serb parliament concluded the suit was "destructive for the interests" of the RS, and therefore contended the decisions of the Bosnian Presidency. Earlier this week, the Presidency's two other members, Croat Ante Jelavic and Muslim Alija Izetbegovic,
SARAJEVO/BANJA LUKA, Oct 10 (Hina) - The parliament of Republika
Srpska (RS), Bosnia's Serb entity, on Sunday proclaimed as invalid
Bosnia's suit against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on charges
of aggression and genocide, with the explanation that the suit,
initiated in 1993, was contrary to the vital interests of the RS.
The RS parliament convened in Banja Luka on Sunday for an
extraordinary session called by Zivko Radisic, the Serb member in
Bosnia's collective Presidency, and disputed the legal foundation
of the suit the former Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina filed at the
International Court of Justice in The Hague.
The Bosnian Serb parliament concluded the suit was "destructive for
the interests" of the RS, and therefore contended the decisions of
the Bosnian Presidency.
Earlier this week, the Presidency's two other members, Croat Ante
Jelavic and Muslim Alija Izetbegovic, decided to back the suit
against Yugoslavia, but Radisic announced it was unnecessary to
pursue with it.
Radisic then said he would urge the RS parliament to take a position
on the matter, in keeping with the Bosnian Constitution, and debate
it as one of vital national interest.
Article Five of Bosnia's Constitution allows for the possibility of
annulling state bodies' decisions if one of the two entities'
parliaments assesses with a two-third majority that vital national
interests have been jeopardised.
This week, Radisic visited Belgrade, where he held talks with
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Radisic told today's
parliament session that pursuance with the action against
Yugoslavia would represent an attempt to abolish the Bosnian Serb
entity, given that the indictment states the RS was created as a
result of the Yugoslav aggression against Bosnia.
Radisic also said pursuance with the action was an attempt to impose
collective guilt on the entire Serb people. The action itself
represents the basic obstacle to the establishment of Sarajevo-
Belgrade diplomatic relations, he added.
Representatives of all Bosnian Serb parties, including RS Premier
Milorad Dodik, supported Radisic and his demands.
Dodik however said there was a difference between Yugoslavia and
the current Belgrade regime. "Milosevic is the biggest pest in the
Serb people," he asserted.
(hina) ha