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Bosnian Serbs pass referendum law | Bosnian Serbs pass referendum law |
(10 minutes later) | |
The parliament of the Bosnian Serb Republic - Republika Srpska - has passed a law making it easier to hold referenda on national issues. | The parliament of the Bosnian Serb Republic - Republika Srpska - has passed a law making it easier to hold referenda on national issues. |
It is being seen as a possible step towards an independence referendum. | It is being seen as a possible step towards an independence referendum. |
Bosnian Serb PM Milorad Dodik objects to the presence of an international high representative, imposed under the Dayton Accords after the Bosnian War. | Bosnian Serb PM Milorad Dodik objects to the presence of an international high representative, imposed under the Dayton Accords after the Bosnian War. |
Mr Dodik says he intends to hold a vote gauging support for Dayton and decisions by the high representative. | |
The US and EU have warned that could destabilise Bosnia's constitution. | The US and EU have warned that could destabilise Bosnia's constitution. |
The Dayton peace accord of 1995, which ended Bosnia's devastating war, divided the country into two semi-autonomous entities: the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia-Hercegovina. | The Dayton peace accord of 1995, which ended Bosnia's devastating war, divided the country into two semi-autonomous entities: the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia-Hercegovina. |
Overseeing it all was the high representative - the top international politician in the country. | Overseeing it all was the high representative - the top international politician in the country. |
The passing of the new law sets up Republika Srpska to directly challenge his authority and therefore Bosnia's state power, says the BBC's Balkans correspondent Mark Lowen. | The passing of the new law sets up Republika Srpska to directly challenge his authority and therefore Bosnia's state power, says the BBC's Balkans correspondent Mark Lowen. |
That, warns the international community, could severely threaten Bosnia's sovereignty. | That, warns the international community, could severely threaten Bosnia's sovereignty. |
The real fear for the international community, though, is that Mr Dodik will eventually call a referendum on independence for Republika Srpska, our correspondent says. | The real fear for the international community, though, is that Mr Dodik will eventually call a referendum on independence for Republika Srpska, our correspondent says. |
He has frequently supported the idea in the past, although lately seems to have toned down his secessionist rhetoric. | He has frequently supported the idea in the past, although lately seems to have toned down his secessionist rhetoric. |