“The only way for Serbs to survive in this region is to preserve Republika Srpska and Serbia at all costs,” stated Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska. He emphasizes that, during the term of the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump, Republika Srpska must permanently resolve its status, which, he says, means one of two things: a return to the original Dayton Agreement or a peaceful separation within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This message, experts suggest, is a call to the Trump administration for America to discard its misguided role in international relations and prevent its ambassadors from interfering in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The preservation of Republika Srpska and Serbia without integrations that would force Serbs to relinquish sovereignty and identity is a priority and a path to survival for Serbs in this region, according to Dodik.
“Muslims want a unitary Bosnia and Herzegovina without Serbs. To achieve this, they must abolish Republika Srpska, which makes us the problem. Serbs have no need to fight with either the West or the East. They aim to cooperate with both, without becoming casualties in the conflict between East and West,” Dodik explained.
Dodik expects that during the term of newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump, Serbs will have the opportunity to express their goals more freely, goals that, he reminds, are outlined in the Declaration of the All-Serb Assembly and are set to be realized.
“During Trump’s term, Republika Srpska must permanently resolve its status, which means either a return to the original Dayton or a peaceful separation within Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, despite the Democrats’ defeat in the U.S. elections, Bosniaks will not abandon their push for a unitary Bosnia or their demonization of Serbs. I am confident that Trump’s victory changes everything, despite some wanting him to declare he will change nothing,” Dodik noted.
Commenting on Dodik’s statement, Professor Drago Vuković interprets it as a message that America should shed its misguided role in international relations, stop sending ambassadors like Michael Murphy who brazenly interfere in domestic affairs, and allow local political actors to negotiate the future they desire for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“People here don’t expect excessive engagement from the Trump administration, but they do hope that Trump will allow something Bosnia and Herzegovina desperately needs: autonomy as a sovereign state, free from the OHR, the high representative, and international judges,” Vuković emphasized.
The Association “Creators of Republika Srpska” assesses that Trump’s approach toward the Serb people and Republika Srpska will be more favorable, partly due to the presence of Serbs within his team.
“We are pleased, like many people around the world. Everyone longs for change, and many are weary of the power the previous U.S. administration imposed as the sole superpower. It’s expected that the stance toward Serbs and Serb issues will be less hostile, creating a better atmosphere,” assured Dušan Kozić, President of the Assembly of the Association “Creators of Republika Srpska.”
The relationship between Trump and the Hungarian Prime Minister is also promising, which is significant for Republika Srpska, given its excellent relations with Hungary.
President Dodik is confident that Viktor Orbán will be Trump’s most trusted man in Europe.
“I am proud that Orbán and I share the same political values and maintain excellent political and economic cooperation, which can only benefit us,” concluded Dodik.
Source: RTRS
