GRUSHKO: THE OHR MUST BE REMOVED

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 21 /SRNA/ – Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Grushko says in Banja Luka that Moscow's position is that the OHR must be removed, stressing that external interference in the functioning of electoral institutions ahead of the upcoming general elections in BiH is unacceptable.

"Russia will continue its efforts to support the Dayton Peace Agreement and those forces that are fighting to preserve its principles," Grushko said. Grushko says there is no alternative to the fundamental principles on which the Dayton structure is built, namely the equality of the three constituent peoples and the two entities. "I assured our respected Serb colleagues that Russia, as a guarantor of the Dayton Peace Agreement, will stand in defence of these principles. We start from the position that no one from outside can impose their will on these peoples. The peoples themselves must build their mutual relations in the way they choose," Grushko emphasized after meetings in Banja Luka with Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan. He stated that the role of the West is destructive, particularly that of Berlin and London, accusing them of attempting to undermine the decentralized structure of BiH and to strip Serbs of the constitutional powers guaranteed by the Dayton. "They seek to gain unlimited control over BiH in order to realize their colonial ambitions. All of this further destabilizes the country and threatens the security of the entire region," Grushko warned. He also said that the unlawful bypassing of the UN Security Council in the appointment of German national Christian Schmidt to BiH has significantly worsened long-standing stabilization efforts in the country. "This proves that Western experiments with external governance do not lead to anything good in the country," Grushko said. The meeting at the Palace of the Republic was also attended by National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, Prime Minister Savo Minić, Serb deputy to the House of Peoples of BiH Radovan Kovačević, and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik. The Russian Ambassador to BiH Igor Kalabukhov also attended the meeting.