MOSCOW AGAINST UN SANCTIONS ON REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA

MOSCOW AGAINST UN SANCTIONS ON REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA
RIA Novosti - December 22, 2004

MOSCOW, December 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Ministry considers wrong the adoption on December 16 by UN High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Paddy Ashdown of another package of sanctions against the Republic of Srpska. "It is obvious that the negative consequences of Ashdown's action are calling in doubt any arguments supporting its necessity and wisdom," the Foreign Ministry says in a statement obtained by RIA Novosti the day before.

In the view of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in such circumstances it is not worth expecting improved cooperation between the Republic of Srpska and the International Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia, which should be pursued under UN Security Council resolutions.

"As a guarantor of the peace deal, and participant of the council on its enforcement, Russia has time and again warned Paddy Ashdown against steps leading to the upsetting of the as yet volatile balance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the detriment of the peace process in the country," says the release.

The Foreign Ministry also urged the UN representative "to be guided in the existing situation by a desire to restore partnership with members of all peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and act fully aware of his measure of responsibility for the fulfillment of the mandate of the UN Security Council and the peace enforcement council."
On December 16, Paddy Ashdown adopted another package of sanctions in relation to the Republic of Srpska. They were his "conclusions" following a December summit in Brussels in the course of which Bosnia and Herzegovina was denied the right to join the Partnership for Peace program under the pretext of non-cooperation with the International Tribunal.

In the view of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the direct consequence of Mr. Ashdown's moves has been a decision to resign by Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic, and representatives of Bosnian Serbs in the Bosnia and Herzegovina government, including Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic. "The termination of work in all-Bosnian bodies by these politicians who constructively cooperate with international structures will lead to a crisis in the country and is fraught with complications in the peace process as a whole," the document says.