KOSOVO VS REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA – AN INTERNATIONAL DOUBLE STANDARDS GAME
KOSOVO VS REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA – AN INTERNATIONAL DOUBLE STANDARDS GAME

Author(s): Miloš Šolaja
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, International Law, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Published by: Институт за међународну политику и привреду
Keywords: Republic of Srpska; Kosovo; independence; differences; polity
Summary/Abstract: A self-declaration of independence of Kosovo adopted by its Assembly on February 17th, 2008, directed the attention of the international community to the Republic of Srpska, the semi-independent state-shaped ‘entity’ in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to often openly expressed possibilities to declare either independence or unification with Serbia, political activities of the Republic of Srpska became the subject of careful observation of the Western countries and international organizations. All powerful and influential international actors unequivocally rejected any thoughts of the Republic of Srpska’s independence while explaining the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence as a ‘sui generis’ case. International stakeholders relations with both political entities maintained the stance that both entities have some similarities but also differences. This work will compare both considerations - political and international approach, as well as the intentions of actors. The analysis will show the opposite state-building processes and radically diverse international relations towards each of them, which may be dubbed as “double standards”. The Western group of countries which represented the mainstream of International Community approach did not support the Republic of Srpska at the time of its establishment and later on. Relations to Kosovo were different from the very beginning of the Yugoslav crisis. Even while it was still part of Yugoslavia, Kosovo had the support from the Western countries. That support had been present not only when the act of independence was adopted but also continued after it. The Western countries did not support the establishment of the Republic of Srpska. Kosovo, however, was a different case.

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