Dacic: Interpol has demonstrated firm adherence to principle of neutrality

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on Wednesday evening INTERPOL's rejection of Sarajevo's request for international arrest warrants for Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandic following a protest note from Serbia demonstrated the organisation's firm adherence to the principle of neutrality.

"Based on our protest note and an explanation by INTERPOL Belgrade, the INTERPOL General Secretariat has made the assessment that the request is not in line with Article 3 of the (INTERPOL) Constitution and that the conditions for issuing arrest warrants have not been met, whereby INTERPOL has proved it firmly adheres to the principle of neutrality and non-interference in the internal affairs of its member states, and that it will not allow a misuse of its institutions such as an international arrest warrant for political purposes," Dacic said in an Interior Ministry statement.

A Bosnia and Herzegovina court has issued arrest warrants for Dodik, Stevandic and Republika Srpska PM Radovan Viskovic over alleged violation of the constitutional order and then requested INTERPOL arrest warrants for Dodik and Stevandic over their failure to appear in a hearing.