The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, stated that the construction of the highway from Doboj through Modriča, the Brčko District, and Bijeljina, connecting with Serbia, is a priority and a lifeline for the region.
- I am convinced, knowing what we are doing, that in the next four to five years, we will have a completed road from Doboj to Modriča, from Modriča to the Brčko District, from the Brčko District to Bijeljina, and further towards Rača. I am certain that this highway will be the lifeline not only for the political but also the traffic integration of the entire Republika Srpska – Dodik emphasized.
Dodik mentioned that the next phase involves constructing a fast road from Sarajevo to Belgrade, but this project is being hindered by authorities in the Federation of BiH.
- In the next phase, what we plan is to build a highway or fast road that connects all our important places in the east. The Sarajevo-Belgrade highway, which includes Republika Srpska, is already under construction, from Rača to Bijeljina, and it has been contracted with a Chinese company to continue from Bijeljina to the Brčko District. From the Brčko District, this highway should continue towards Tuzla and Sarajevo. However, in the Federation, the Tuzla and Sarajevo authorities have different views on where the highway should go. Tuzla insists it connects to Doboj, while others want it to go through Živinice towards Zenica – Dodik explained.
He stated that there is still no decision on this matter, which is why the arrangement secured in cooperation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been stalled.
- We were waiting for a joint decision. Since that decision hasn’t been made, we said, ‘if you want us to proceed, we are ready to work on our own; give us support, and we will start.’ I attended discussions where a Turkish bank, with the support of Turkey, secured 500 million euros for the construction of the fast road in Republika Srpska and provided guarantees to a company in accordance with the intergovernmental agreement. It is now necessary for the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH to approve this project, for the BiH Presidency to confirm it, and to ratify it – Dodik said.
He added that after that, the Turkish side will fulfill its obligations, expressing hope that everything could be completed in the next few months, provided there is no ill will in the Federation of BiH that would obstruct it.
- As far as we are concerned, we have completed everything from the standpoint of agreements, interest rates, and the route we will build – the President of Srpska emphasized.
Dodik noted that Republika Srpska has already built 120 kilometers of highway and that more would have been built if it weren’t for the complex decision-making process at the BiH level.
- When we started talking about our desire to build a network of highways ten years ago, many thought it was just another illusion and a story pleasing to the ears. In any case, the 120 kilometers of highway already built in Republika Srpska shows that we were serious and committed to this project – Dodik concluded.
Source: RTRS
