In a special session held today in Banja Luka, the Government of Republika Srpska instructed the Ministry of Interior to expeditiously draft legislation to regulate border control and border crossings in Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning the territory of Republika Srpska, assigning border control responsibilities to police officers from the Ministry of Interior.

The Office of the President of Republika Srpska announced that a “top leadership” meeting concluded that the RS Border Police should be established.

A working group has been created, which convened for its first meeting on Monday to begin drafting laws governing the operations of the Border Police within the RS.

This initiative is deemed unconstitutional as the State Border Police currently operates at the Bosnia and Herzegovina level, and can only be disbanded through a decision from both houses of the BiH Parliament.

The recent secessionist and unconstitutional actions by RS authorities follow a ruling from the Court of BiH, which ordered that RS President Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Višković, and National Assembly President Nenad Stevandić be held in custody for one month following their questioning.

Dodik, Višković, and Stevandić are under suspicion for allegedly attacking the constitutional order, and they have failed to respond to summons from the BiH Prosecutor’s Office. Consequently, the Court of BiH issued a detention order due to non-compliance.

If the suspects remain unavailable, an arrest warrant will be issued. In such a scenario, all law enforcement agencies in BiH, including the State Border Police, are required to apprehend Dodik, Višković, and Stevandić.

The RS Government has also tasked the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice with facilitating the transfer of RS employees from the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), along with judges, prosecutors, and other personnel based in the RS, who work at the Court of BiH, the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH, provided they wish to join RS institutions by Wednesday, March 19 of this year.

Subsequently, the government intends to initiate proceedings to nullify the legislation that grants this right, according to the RS Government’s statement.

The RS Government has instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to continuously gather information from judicial and other institutions regarding the enforcement of the Law on the Non-Application of Laws and Prohibition of Extra-Constitutional Institutions of BiH, as well as the Law on Non-Application of Constitutional Court Decisions, taking necessary actions against individuals and institutions that violate these laws.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been directed to promptly create legislation to establish the RS Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices.

The Ministry of Finance is also tasked with ensuring that financial provisions are in place for the establishment and operation of RS institutions as mandated by the RS National Assembly laws, including future institutions aimed at safeguarding the constitutional order of RS.

Moreover, the Ministry of Finance must suspend funding from the RS budget for any institutions that fail to comply with the laws, regulations, and general acts established by the RS National Assembly, and recommend initiating procedures to repeal such institutions.

The RS Government has charged the Ministry of Internal Affairs with mobilizing all available resources to ensure the safety of protected individuals and facilities, taking all legally necessary measures to uphold the constitutional and legal duties of said persons.

Lastly, the RS Government has approved the issuance of RS bonds, primarily aimed at the public (savings bonds), presenting a new investment opportunity accessible for small investors.

The proposed nominal value for this issue is five million marks (approximately 2.5 million euros), featuring an annual interest rate of 4.5% and a two-year maturity from the registration date. Interest will be distributed to bondholders semi-annually.

Savings bonds will serve as an affordable financial tool for RS citizens, with a minimum subscription threshold of 100 marks and a nominal value of one mark for each bond.

The decision stipulates that registration and payment for savings bonds will commence no later than seven days following the public announcement in daily newspapers and on the Ministry of Finance of the RS website.

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