Dayton Road of Bosnia Toward Europe  Cover Image

Dejtonski put Bosne u Evropu
Dayton Road of Bosnia Toward Europe

Author(s): Omer Ibrahimagić
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Fakultet političkih nauka - Univerzitet u Sarajevu
Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina; Dayton Peace Accord

Summary/Abstract: Dayton and the Constitution of B&H confirm the state continuity of Bosnia and Herzegovina within its internationally recognised borders from April 6th 1992. The constitution defines B&H as the state of three constitutive nations: Bosnians, Serbs and Croats (together with the rest). This doesn’t necessarily refer to their ethnic and territorial homogenisation in separate entities. Entities represent unnatural state of Bosnia and they are foreign to its historical and social being. Dayton doesn’t recognise majority or minority of people in entities. Protection of national interests is ensured through a specific democratic procedure in the decision making process. European essence of B&H is its democratic institutions and state legislations which will enable all citizens and nations, as well as minorities in B&H, equal rights in accessing state institutions and in accordance to the voting in democratic elections. In order for B&H to be ready for Europe it is necessary to for politics and political parties to be organised in such a manner that a citizen is in the spot light as a political subject. Individual rights of citizens as well as collective national rights can be protected through democratic state institutions and state lows. National organisation, as we have seen in practise, objectively excludes the ‘other’ and the ‘different’ from a democratic political process and from having equal rights on the whole territory of B&H. The entities were given too much meaning in the parliament decision making. House of Representatives should be returned to the citizens and House of People to the nations. With this the entities will be brought to its right meaning. Important European essence of B&H is the right of the refugees and misplaced people to return to their homes and properties. Without this fundamental human right, for people to return to their own land, it is illusory to talk about democracy and democratic institutions, justice and righteousness. Only when, people make their rights to go back to their properties and chose the place of living and working without force, full freedom of movement of people, work and capital will be accomplished. If Dayton didn’t name all the institutions that are needed on the state level, Dayton enabled us in Article III line 5a of the Constitution of B&H to legally regulate that: ‘Additional institutions can be established when needed...’ It is our responsibility to change and adjust the Constitution of B&H, during regular legal procedures, and in accordance with the needs, in a manner regulated in Article X of the Constitution. Thus, amendment changes are possible, not the changes of the Dayton peace agreement as a whole, but of the B&H Constitution from Dayton, under the condition to have full consent of the political representatives of three nations in B&H, and it’s citizens, but with a more active support of the international community.

  • Issue Year: 2006
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 85-102
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Bosnian