OREANDA-NEWS. The Bosnian Serb leadership intends to withdraw consent to the formation of the general armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and create the army of the Republika Srpska. This was announced by the chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Bosnian Serbs, Milorad Dodik.

It is expected to form an independent army within a few months, he said, adding that a vote on this issue in the assembly will take place in the coming days. Bosnian Croat leader Zeljko Koshmic called Dodik's plans a «criminal act of rebellion».

After the end of the Bosnian War (1992-1995), Bosnia and Herzegovina was divided into two semi-autonomous republics: Serbian and Croatian-Bosnian. Each part has it's own government and parliament. At the same time, there is a common Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian central government.

In 2006, the United Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina was formed, consisting of 10,000 soldiers and civilians. The international community sees this as an important link connecting all three communities of the country.

In recent months, the situation in the Balkan State has worsened. Since July, Bosnian Serbs have been boycotting the work of central government institutions. They are protesting against the ban on denial of the genocide in Srebrenica imposed by the former UN envoy to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko.