[6] Following the outbreak of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poplašen left Sarajevo with his family to work for the newly-formed government of Republika Srpska in Pale.
[8] High Representative Carlos Westendorp stated that he would recognize Poplašen's victory on the condition that he does not name Momčilo Krajišnik as Prime Minister.
[9] On 5 March 1999, Westendorp dismissed Poplašen after he refused to give Milorad Dodik a new mandate as Prime Minister.
Republika Srpska's National Assembly responded with a vote to cut off relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also ruled that both of Westendorp's decisions were unconstitutional and defied the Dayton Agreement.
[4] In an ironic development, Dodik resigned as Prime Minister in protest of the decision to remove Brčko from Republika Srpska's control.