RS will be independent, president claims

BELGRADE Republic of Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik has stated that the RS is the only self-sustainable community in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He added that he was convinced that it would one day be an independent country. RS will be independent, president claims “The RS is the only self-sustainable community in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in economic, political and every other sense. Nobody else can say that, neither the Federation (Croat-Muslim Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina) nor Bosnia-Herzegovina, that are on ‘IV’ and depend on the help of the international community,” Dodik told Belgrade-based daily Vecernje novosti. He explained that not a single country in the Balkans at the moment had investments worth EUR 2bn but that the RS did. “Let them deny it if I am wrong. We have plenty to show for because we have realized numerous projects. People understand that the RS is additionally stabilized, that it has become an unavoidable factor in the decision-making in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) has given the biggest contribution and I do not doubt the citizens’ support,” Dodik was quoted as saying. He noted that nobody could ban a referendum but that it was all about good timing and added that it was never late to hold the referendum. “Kosovo has received limited support so they do not need a seat in the UN. Neither do we! I think that many things have changed since we first time mentioned the idea,” Dodik said. “Strengthening of trust among the peoples has not happened and the majority in Bosnia-Herzegovina, I mean Serbs and Croats, do not want the state. Only Bosniaks still want it because they still illusionary think that they will rule the entire Bosnia-Herzegovina,” the RS president explained. Milorad Dodik (Tanjug, file) Beta

RS will be independent, president claims

“The RS is the only self-sustainable community in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in economic, political and every other sense. Nobody else can say that, neither the Federation (Croat-Muslim Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina) nor Bosnia-Herzegovina, that are on ‘IV’ and depend on the help of the international community,” Dodik told Belgrade-based daily Večernje novosti.

He explained that not a single country in the Balkans at the moment had investments worth EUR 2bn but that the RS did.

“Let them deny it if I am wrong. We have plenty to show for because we have realized numerous projects. People understand that the RS is additionally stabilized, that it has become an unavoidable factor in the decision-making in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) has given the biggest contribution and I do not doubt the citizens’ support,” Dodik was quoted as saying.

He noted that nobody could ban a referendum but that it was all about good timing and added that it was never late to hold the referendum.

“Kosovo has received limited support so they do not need a seat in the UN. Neither do we! I think that many things have changed since we first time mentioned the idea,” Dodik said.

“Strengthening of trust among the peoples has not happened and the majority in Bosnia-Herzegovina, I mean Serbs and Croats, do not want the state. Only Bosniaks still want it because they still illusionary think that they will rule the entire Bosnia-Herzegovina,” the RS president explained.