Bosnian Serb Reform Effort Scuttled: Observers Cite Political Obstructionism and Foreign Influence

BANJA LUKA, Republika Srpska, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Milorad Dodik, Premier of the Bosnian Serb statelet, hosted a summit of Bosnian political leadership in hopes of breaking the impasse that has plagued Bosnia's attempts to reform its political system. In the wake of two rounds of internationally brokered talks that ended without agreement, Premier Dodik organized the event without foreign involvement to try and recreate the positive atmosphere from the recent "Prud" round of constructive negotiations between the domestic political leadership of the Bosnian Federation and the Republika Srpska.

A majority of representatives of the parliamentary parties failed to show for the talks, and the talks were cancelled. "This is not my defeat or a defeat of the [my political party], but of Bosnia-Herzegovina." Dodik said. Recent foreign-led efforts to broker political reform have been largely unsuccessful. Many Bosnian citizens, including Dodik, view continuing international administration of Bosnia as inhibiting the political growth of the state. "That is why [reform] needs to be done by domestic leaders. It is impossible today, but I want to believe that it will be possible in the future," he said.

Local commentators asserted that foreign diplomats in Sarajevo are accustomed to being "in the driver's seat" of Bosnian affairs, and have been openly hostile to the Bosnian Serb initiative. Dodik responded to reports that U.S. and EU diplomats in Sarajevo pressured invitees to stay home, stating "I've just tried to ensure that local politicians get together and try to agree on some issues that would speed up the European path. That is something the international community wanted us to do."

Gordan Milosevic is with the government of the Republika Srpska.