The Peace Implementation Council postponed a meeting planned for Wednesday to allow member states more time to consult with each other and the High Representative concerning the planned referendum on the Republika Srpska national holiday. Thus far, the PIC members have not been able to agree on a course of action to prevent the referendum or punish RS leaders.
There is a rift between the West – which has already condemned the referendum as illegal – and Russia, which has in the past supported Bosnia’s Serb-dominated entity’s right to self-determination, the diplomat said.
But even some EU and NATO member countries, while condemning the referendum, are strongly against any use of the OHR’s executive powers in an attempt to prevent it, he added.
Some of these countries believe that Bosnia has grown to the point that it should not be micro-managed by the international community.
