Bosnia's Serb Republic appoints interim president, seals Dodik's departure from post

SARAJEVO - The parliament of Bosnia's Serb Republic appointed Ana Trisic Babic as an interim president on Saturday, acknowledging officially for the first time that former President Milorad Dodik is stepping aside after a state court banned him from politics.

Trisic Babic, Dodik's close ally, will hold the position for one month until new presidential elections are held in the Serb Republic on November 23.

The parliament also annulled a series of separatist laws that were passed over the past year after Dodik had been indicted for defying decisions of the international envoy and the constitutional court.

Dodik, a pro-Russian nationalist who wants the Serb Republic to secede and join Serbia, had so far refused to step down and continued to perform duties and travel abroad in the capacity of president. He is appealing the state court's verdict at the constitutional court.

Dodik said that despite the parliament vote on Saturday, the Serb Republic will not change its policies, with secession remaining his ultimate goal. But he had to make the move in coordination with foreign partners, Dodik said.

The U.S. State Department welcomed Saturday's move, saying it was the result of U.S.-led efforts "to defuse the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

"The United States welcomes today’s Republika Srpska National Assembly (RSNA) action that affirms stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will also chart a course for constructive partnership with the United States based on mutual interests, economic potential, and shared prosperity," State Department Senior Bureau Official for European and Eurasian Affairs Brendan Hanrahan said in a statement to Reuters.

The U.S. Treasury Department said on Friday it had removed four Dodik allies from a sanctions list, in a move praised by Dodik who has been campaigning to get U.S. sanctions against himself lifted.

He has been sanctioned by the U.S. and Britain for obstructing the terms of the Dayton peace deal that ended Bosnia's war in the 1990s, as well as by several European countries that say his separatist policies endanger peace and stability in Bosnia. REUTERS