Dodik speaks after meeting with Tadić

RS PM Milorad Dodik says he does not intend to accept any suggestions to change Bosnia's Constitution that run contrary to the Dayton Accord. The head of the government of the Serb entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina spoke for B92 after a meeting in Belgrade on Friday with Serbian President Boris Tadic. Dodik speaks after meeting with Tadic He said it was "out of the question to even discuss" a proposal to cancel entity rights to veto some Bosnian parliament decisions. Dodik also stated that Tadic "didn't even attempt" to pressure him to change his position regarding the reforms in Bosnia, proposed by U.S. and EU officials. B92: Is there any room for compromise on your side? "The best definition of compromise is [that it is] when all parties are compromised, obviously, that's what's being required. The red line that is sometimes asked for has been crossed a long time ago. This is literally another attempt at concessions so that there is a majority of Bosniaks [Bosnian Muslims] established. Alija Izetbegovic said it a long time ago that he will sacrifice peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina for Bosnia-Herzegovina. He has plenty of followers out there still. But there are also people who are still ready to go all the way, using peace, to finalize their work options." B92: You're not that man? "If I were that man I would probably have been an outstanding officer in the last war, but I'm not. I was involved in politics and at that time I tried to be an alternative to all that. As far as I'm concerned, I'm completely dedicated to peace and my policy is not aimed at any kind of destabilization and violence. My goal is to have agreements and procedures honored. It is my place to answer the expectations and fears of the people who have suffered a lot in RS, 29,000 people died for the Republic of Srpska, and I have no right not to feel responsible for them." B92: Does that mean there is no room for further retreat, not on October 20 (when the second meeting with U.S.-EU representatives and Bosnian political leaders has been scheduled)? "We could work on some technical issues." B92: But you cannot make the concession of having entity voting abolished? "That's not on the agenda. There is one problem – in order to have a debate on constitutional changes, you must know who is proposing them. Foreigners are certainly not a location that can be relevant and legitimate for any kind of constitutional changes proposal. Domestic politicians, those from [Muslim-Croat] Federation, Bosniaks [Bosnian Muslims] in particular, are trying to win over the international community for their proposals, and what we hear from America and Europe is what we have been hearing in the past years from Bosniaks unhappy with the Dayton arrangement, who object to RS, who would rather have a majority, who want a centralized Bosnia-Herzegovina, where decisions would be made according to the 'one person one vote' principle, with a majority in parliament. Then a situation arises where the international community, believing that some forward movement should be made, lists out their [Bosniak] wishes and makes proposals instead of the Bosniaks about what should be done." B92: But this international community was in Belgrade, to see President Tadic, and now that you've laid out your arguments in this way, I must ask again, do you have full support from Belgrade? "What was said unequivocally at President Tadic's is that Serbia as the guarantor of the Dayton Accord stands behind the Dayton Accord. Serbia is in favor of all peaceful options in the region, in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well, and will certainly respect an agreement reached by the sides in Bosnia – and those are the three constitutive peoples and the two entities."

Dodik speaks after meeting with Tadić

He said it was "out of the question to even discuss" a proposal to cancel entity rights to veto some Bosnian parliament decisions.

Dodik also stated that Tadić "didn't even attempt" to pressure him to change his position regarding the reforms in Bosnia, proposed by U.S. and EU officials.

B92: Is there any room for compromise on your side?

"The best definition of compromise is [that it is] when all parties are compromised, obviously, that's what's being required. The red line that is sometimes asked for has been crossed a long time ago. This is literally another attempt at concessions so that there is a majority of Bosniaks [Bosnian Muslims] established. Alija Izetbegović said it a long time ago that he will sacrifice peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina for Bosnia-Herzegovina. He has plenty of followers out there still. But there are also people who are still ready to go all the way, using peace, to finalize their work options."

B92: You're not that man?

"If I were that man I would probably have been an outstanding officer in the last war, but I'm not. I was involved in politics and at that time I tried to be an alternative to all that. As far as I'm concerned, I'm completely dedicated to peace and my policy is not aimed at any kind of destabilization and violence. My goal is to have agreements and procedures honored. It is my place to answer the expectations and fears of the people who have suffered a lot in RS, 29,000 people died for the Republic of Srpska, and I have no right not to feel responsible for them."

B92: Does that mean there is no room for further retreat, not on October 20 (when the second meeting with U.S.-EU representatives and Bosnian political leaders has been scheduled)?

"We could work on some technical issues."

B92: But you cannot make the concession of having entity voting abolished?

"That's not on the agenda. There is one problem – in order to have a debate on constitutional changes, you must know who is proposing them. Foreigners are certainly not a location that can be relevant and legitimate for any kind of constitutional changes proposal. Domestic politicians, those from [Muslim-Croat] Federation, Bosniaks [Bosnian Muslims] in particular, are trying to win over the international community for their proposals, and what we hear from America and Europe is what we have been hearing in the past years from Bosniaks unhappy with the Dayton arrangement, who object to RS, who would rather have a majority, who want a centralized Bosnia-Herzegovina, where decisions would be made according to the 'one person one vote' principle, with a majority in parliament. Then a situation arises where the international community, believing that some forward movement should be made, lists out their [Bosniak] wishes and makes proposals instead of the Bosniaks about what should be done."

B92: But this international community was in Belgrade, to see President Tadić, and now that you've laid out your arguments in this way, I must ask again, do you have full support from Belgrade?

"What was said unequivocally at President Tadić's is that Serbia as the guarantor of the Dayton Accord stands behind the Dayton Accord. Serbia is in favor of all peaceful options in the region, in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well, and will certainly respect an agreement reached by the sides in Bosnia – and those are the three constitutive peoples and the two entities."