Public discussion in Trebinje: Srpska, under the provisions of the Dayton Agreement, has the right to adopt a new constitution

A public discussion on the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Srpska was held today in the Trebinje City Assembly.

Opening the public debate, the Chairman of the Working Group that assists the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska in the preparation and drafting of the new Constitution of the Republic of Srpska, Prof. Dr. Vitomir Popovic, said that Srpska is determined to adopt a new constitution following its Dayton competencies.

He emphasized that the Republic of Srpska, as one of the two equal entities that, together with the Brcko District, form Bosnia and Herzegovina, has a new constitution under the provisions of the Dayton Agreement.

"The Republic of Srpska is committed to institutionally moving towards the drafting and adoption of a new constitution that implies continuity with the 1992 Constitution and that includes all amendments that the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska worked on, as well as getting rid of those imposed by High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch," said Popovic.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              He emphasized that it is justified to raise questions about the work of those institutions that have been transferred to the BiH level, which have been abused or have not yielded the expected results.

"The Vienna Convention clearly states that the contracting parties must perform their contractual obligations bona fide, that is, in good faith and conscientiously," emphasized Popovic.

He ordered that all new provisions of the constitution respect the equality of all three constituent peoples and others in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms and all other international conventions in this area.

Working Group member Dragan Dakic stated that the purpose of the public discussions, as outlined in the plan and program of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, is to address the needs of citizens.

"The goal is to adopt a new highest political and legal act that meets the needs of citizens and the Republic of Srpska, following the needs of the modern era. We are making efforts to ensure that the new constitution, after public and expert debates, is aligned with the highest standards of protection of human rights and freedoms and other requirements of international law," said Dakic.

He emphasized that he was encouraged by the large response and interest of citizens in the public debates, which provides the basis for the Working Group to submit high-quality proposals to the Committee on Constitutional Issues.

Dakic said that it is necessary to regulate entire areas with a new constitution, especially those in the field of digital technologies and protection from cyberattacks.

"It is necessary to establish the sovereignty of the Republic of Srpska in this area and to strengthen the actions and conduct of the competent authorities in its jurisdiction," he said.

Numerous citizens attended the public debate in Trebinje, the mayor of Trebinje Mirko Curic, the director of the Serbian Workers' Union Luka Petrovic, representatives of local authorities, veterans' organizations, citizens' associations, the academic community, as well as MPs Ilija Tamindzija, Milica Ijacic and Nebojsa Vukanovic.

MP Milica Ijacic said that the Republic of Srpska should adopt a new constitution, because the existing one has undergone numerous changes due to the amendments imposed by the High Representative.

"With this, we are strengthening the constitutional position of the Republic of Srpska and the competences of our institutions and are resolutely opposing international interventionism," she said.

The next Public Discussion on the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Srpska will be held in the City Assembly of Prijedor on Thursday, April 3rd, at noon, and on Friday, April 4th, at noon in the City Assembly of Gradiska.

The public debates are coordinated by Prof. Dr. Vitomir Popovic, President of the Working Group that will assist the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska in the preparation and drafting of the new Constitution of the Republic of Srpska.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, at its 20th Special Session, held on March 13th, 2025, adopted the Decision on the Approval of the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Srpska. By the conclusion of the National Assembly, adopted at the same session, the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Srpska shall be submitted to a public debate, which shall be held within 30 days.

The Committee for Constitutional Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska is responsible for organizing and conducting the public debate, which shall, at the same time undertake to determine the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Srpska and submit it to the National Assembly after the public debate.