PRAGUE -- European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has accused Bosnia's Serb entity of obstructing the peace process in that Balkan country, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.
Ashton's criticisms are contained in a report to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The report, endorsed by the EU's political and security committee, was sent to New York on March 17. It says that Republika Srpska ignores rulings by international peace envoy Valentin Inzko and questions the existence of the country.
"The Serb Republic directly endangers The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia, especially when it comes to annexes dealing with the authority of High Representative," the report says.
It also says that Bosnian Serb leaders "put into question the integrity of the country, putting on the table the possibility of secession."
Following the Bosnian war, Bosnia-Herzegovina was subdivided into two entities -- Republika Srpska and the Bosnian-Croat Federation, The country has government structures at both the state and entity level.
The report also characterized the economic situation in the country as bad, with massive strikes and protests looming. It said the Bosnian-Croat Federation is on the brink of financial collapse while its leaders quarrel over government appointments.
The divided city of Mostar best reflects the situation, the report said, as Bosniaks and Croats there have still not reached agreement on a new mayor after 14 months.