"There are a lot of examples that point to the fact that Bosnia-Herzegovina is not a viable country and that a different concept should be approached. Bosnia-Herzegovina primarily needs peace and stability, and in that regard we can also discuss peaceful break-ups, why should it be an impossible option? Why must there be only the option some foreigners believe is possible?" Dodik told reporters in Banja Luka.

Dodik has so far repeatedly disputed the possibility of the survival of Bosnia-Herzegovina as a state, but without openly calling for its disintegration.

Dodik said that he and the authorities of Republika Srpska respected the Dayton peace agreement, but were ready for talks on all possible solutions.

"Just as we are negotiating an unacceptable set of constitutional amendments in Sarajevo, we also believe that the time has come to talk about how this (Bosnia-Herzegovina) can be peacefully dissolved," Dodik said, adding that he did not expect the international community to support his proposal.

The Office of the High Representative (OHR) responded to Dodik's statements later in the day.

By repeatedly disputing Bosnia-Herzegovina, Prime Minister Dodik is actually harming Republika Srpska whose interests he aspires to represent, reads a statement issued by Valentin Inzko's office.

The OHR also warned that anyone disputing the existence of Bosnia-Herzegovina was disputing the existence of its entities as its constituent parts.

The OHR also said that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina were guaranteed by international law, that is, by the Dayton agreement, and that the entities' legitimacy stemmed from that document and from the country's constitution.