Today, reactions to the American sanctions against close associates of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik continue. Republika Srpska holds that this kind of pressure has never brought any good, especially when imposed by foreign institutions. The celebration of January 9th, the Day of Republika Srpska, will continue, even if all of us are sanctioned.
The “blacklist” of American sanctions is seen here as a list of people who are respected by the people. “I will continue working as before” – this is the stance of Branislav Okuka, who found himself on the sanctions list for celebrating the Day of Republika Srpska and was also marked as one of the main organizers of the “Borders Exist” events. He firmly refuses to be part of a project where they set the agenda, because what is significant to them is not significant to us.
- The most significant thing for us is Republika Srpska and the existence of the Serbian people within it; there is no way they can sanction us – Okuka states.
Vice President of Republika Srpska from the Croatian people, Davor Pranjić, is against the imposition of any sanctions on any official at any level of government because, he says, they never bring anything good.
- At a time when BiH is progressing on its European path, any foreign administration should not make any decisions regarding sanctions, especially not against associates who are not publicly exposed at the moment but are operationally assigned – states Pranjić.
Sanctions achieve nothing, and foreigners must leave BiH if they want the country to survive, says Minister Vojin Mitrović. Anything is possible when it comes to making unilateral decisions that do not respect international law and general legal regulations.
- Allow us to decide our own fate, just as you make decisions in your countries without the help of foreigners. Sanctions are a wrong decision, no matter where they are imposed – adds Mitrović.
Regarding the involvement of foreigners in the internal affairs of BiH, Republika Srpska has a clear stance, reminds Minister Danijel Egić. The presence of foreigners in the Constitutional Court is unacceptable, as is the action of certain embassies.
- The Day of Republika is the Day of Republika Srpska, that is January 9th, and that cannot be changed. I express regret if this bothers someone in some way. But simply, Republika Srpska was created on January 9th, and we will continue to do so, regardless of whether all of us who were involved and participated in it, receive sanctions – emphasizes Egić.
Branislav Okuka, an advisor to the president, also notes that, in addition to imposing sanctions, the security of Dodik and all who support him in Sarajevo is compromised. He mentions that there are reports of microphones outside the Prosecutor’s Office and the Court of BiH, which eavesdrop on visitors to this judicial institution.
Source: RTRS
