"Oric was in Srebrenica in disguise, inciting crowds"

"Oric was in Srebrenica in disguise, inciting crowds"

Stating that he "always consults and speaks with the leadership of Serbia before making major decisions - as was the case today in Belgrade," Dodik told reporters that "the only spontaneous thing in Potocari was the spontaneous lynching and the schooling of the masses in how to carry out an assassination."

He added that the police of the Serb entity in Bosnia, the RS, is working on the case - but that Bosnia's Muslim-Croat entity, the Federation, "wants to take over and seize jurisdiction," adding this was "only one in a series of cases that shows how things are done there - all with the intention to transfer everything to the Bosnia-Herzegovina level," which, he recalled, "has also been done with Naser Oric."

According to the information coming from Sarajevo, Dodik continued, Oric - a wartime commander of the Muslim forces in the Srebrenica area, wanted in Serbia on war crimes charges - "attended the memorial service disguised and incited the crowds to riot."

Because of this, according to Dodik, Bosniak member of the Bosnian Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic "cannot speak about a policy of reconciliation, since he wants to abolish the RS and create a Bosnia according to the provisions of the Islamic Declaration authored by his father Alija Izetbegovic."

Dodik added that Vucic "came to Srebrenica, offered reconciliation, demonstrated the personal responsibility of a statesmen, and in return had not been guaranteed safety."

The RS president also believes that "the event at Potocari" was politicized and said proof of this was that the leader of Bosnia's Islamic Community Reis Kavazovic, "who did not know it, tried to calm the raging mass."

Dodik said the positive reaction of the Mothers of Srebrenica association made the best impression on him, and added that the attack on Vucic was seen in the Serb entity "as an attack on their own prime minister and institutions."

Speaking during the same news conference, Vucic said he had not plans to press criminal charges over the incident in Potocari "because he believes the authorities of Serbia, the RS and Bosnia-Herzegovina will do their job."

During their meeting today in Belgrade, Vucic also asked Dodik "to reconsider the decision to hold a referendum" in the RS on the state-level judicial system.

Dodik said he was "ready for dialogue on the judiciary and the prosecution in Bosnia-Herzegovina" but added that if no deal was made, he would "stick to the decision on the referendum."

"The court and the prosecution (of Bosnia-Herzegovina) are under the direct influence of the SDA (party) and Bakir Izetbegovic. We expect the court to be independent and not influenced by Oric and Izetbegovic or British and American embassies," said Dodik.

He emphasized that the RS is ready for dialogue with everyone - "but finds it of utmost importance to consult with Serbia."

He announced another meeting with the Serbian leadership in September "to discuss the situation regarding the referendum."

Asked whether this was hint at the possibility the plebiscite would not be held, Dodik said that if there was no progress in terms of the demands of the RS, "then the referendum will go ahead."

Asked about the timeframe for holding it, Dodik said "a minimum of two to three months" was needed, taking into account the procedure which must be complied with.

He, however, added that he expects agreement to be reached during this time.

Dodik then noted that neither the Bosnian Constitution nor the Dayton agreement provide for Bosnia-Herzegovina to have its court and prosecutor's office:

"There can be a court and prosecutor's office in the competencies of Bosnia-Herzegovina, but it cannot be focused only on one nation - on Serbs, nor can it take over cases from the RS." International officials, too, acknowledge that the judiciary is "not perfect," he said, and added, reacting to the criticism of the announced referendum:

"What's undemocratic about it? What calls to war? We are not calling for war but for a democratic expression."

Dodik accused the high representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina of being the main culprit for the situation in the judiciary and the prosecution - singling out Paddy Ashdown as having done "the greatest damage of all."

Dodik also said that he expected "nothing except its understanding and support for the Dayton Agreement" from Serbia.

Asked "what if Serbia is asked to distance itself from the referendum," the RS leaders said he "does not respond to speculation."