"Sluzbeni Glasnik RS" gazette director Proko Dragosavljevic was quoted today by the local media as saying that the decision on the referendum would become valid eight days after its publication.

The referendum, which has met with strong criticism from the international community, is to be held in the week 45 days after the publication of the decision in the official gazette, namely in the first half of June. The implementation of the referendum will cost some two and a half million euros.

On 13 April the Serb entity's parliament decided to call a referendum at which citizens of Republika Srpska would voice their opinion about "the unlawful decisions of the international community's High Representative, notably about the work of the state court and the state prosecutor's office."

The Office of the High Representative immediately voiced grave concern over remarks made at the session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, saying that by making such decisions, the entity authorities were violating the Dayton Agreement.

"Urging the Republika Srpska Assembly to initiate a process against an essential part of the Dayton Peace Agreement is irresponsible. The mandate and executive powers of the High Representative are established by Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) and have been endorsed repeatedly by the United Nations Security Council," the OHR said.

"While laws imposed by the High Representative and subsequently adopted by BiH legislative bodies may be changed, this can only be accomplished through the established legislative process at the appropriate level. Attempts at subverting a state level law by an Entity violate the Dayton Peace Agreement," High Representative Valentin Inzko said.

He warned that the implementation of the referendum would not be allowed.

The Serb entity's President Milorad Dodik, at whose urging the above-mentioned decision was adopted, said that the referendum would be held regardless of the view of the international community.