The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, stated today that it might not be a coincidence that U.S. Ambassador to BiH, Michael Murphy, is leaving as the Serb people celebrate Sretenje, emphasizing that this holiday symbolically demonstrates that the former U.S. administration failed in its intentions to see the end of Republika Srpska.
- I am happy that this year’s celebration begins in Banja Luka, that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is coming along with almost the entire Government of Serbia, and that we will have the opportunity to discuss our relations and cooperation. Last year was difficult for us, imposed as such by the former U.S. administration, particularly by its ambassador. They wanted to see the end of Srpska. This Sretenje symbolically shows that they did not succeed. Murphy is leaving tomorrow at 6 AM – Dodik stated.
Dodik highlighted that this is the first year that Sretenje is being celebrated as a statehood day in Republika Srpska as well.
- This is very important because we are one people, with one history and identity. That is why it is essential to have a shared holiday, so that one day we can be a single state. All these events serve to preserve our identity and unity – Dodik said.
He pointed out that few people know that on the same day that marks the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising, the Mašić Rebellion was launched in Mašići, near Gradiška, where local Serbs rebelled against the same enemy – the Ottomans – but were unfortunately crushed in blood.
- *All participants, including the leader, who was a local priest and teacher, were impaled at Kastel. At the same time that Karađorđe was launching the uprising, our people here were rebelling. There were no modern communication tools as we know them today, but the scale of suffering was the same. During the Ottoman Empire, in the area that is now inhabited by Serbs—most commonly within Republika Srpska—about 140 different uprisings were launched. The Serbs are one nation, with the right to a unified identity, land, and state, and they have a natural right to aspire to it – Dodik emphasized.
Dodik dismissed claims that he seeks a “Greater Serbia”, calling them communist fabrications. He reminded that when Yugoslavia was established, six republics were formed, but only in Serbia were two autonomous provinces created.
- At that time, it would have been more natural for Croatia to have an autonomous province like Istria, Dalmatia, or Slavonia, but that did not happen. Only the Serbs had this imposed upon them. That is when they started labeling us as “Bosnian Serbs,” even though we have never been that. There is no Serb who identifies as a “Bosnian Serb.” Even Germany unified after being divided following fascism. Serbs have never committed genocide. They are trying to impose this narrative on us, but it is not true – Dodik stated.
Speaking about the protests in Serbia, Dodik said that Serbia, which Vučić has strengthened, developed, and positioned well internationally, is now suffering great damage due to these events.
- *It is obvious that Serbian society is still not ready to accept that tragic events, such as the one in Novi Sad, should be dealt with in court and that the courts should determine responsibility—not the streets. All of this has caused significant problems for Serbia. We are solely interested in a strong Serbia. Those around us, particularly Bosniaks, aim to see a weak Serbia because if Serbia is weak, our position weakens as well. In a significant way, this has stalled Serbia – Dodik told “Provjereno.”
He recalled that Serbia’s economic success was recently widely discussed, but that focus has now shifted, making it difficult to refocus political priorities.
- *I know how much authority Vučić commanded at international summits, where I was also present. He came with success behind him. Now, he must go and explain what is happening, and that is never easy. A stalled Serbia will lose investors, business deals, and investments, and in the coming years, it will lose over €100 billion in direct investments. It will also lose significant international standing, and our adversaries will once again try to destabilize Serbia and carve it up – Dodik stated.
He believes that Vojvodina is the next target.
- *Today, the largest number of people in Vojvodina are those who moved there from Republika Srpska and other regions of Bosnia. We cannot be indifferent to this. They are not in favor of an autonomous province; they support an integrated Serbia. Their voices must be heard, rather than those who are pushing the narrative of provincial autonomy. The likely solution is a constitutional redefinition stating that Vojvodina is an integral part of Serbia, erasing this communist legacy – Dodik asserted.
He expressed confidence that Vučić will demonstrate the ability and skill to overcome this serious crisis.
- *I am pleased that despite everything, he has made room to come here, send messages, and show that, despite the challenges in Serbia, he has not forgotten Republika Srpska, nor the events and projects we are working on together. As for our adversaries, we know what they will say—so why should we comment on them? It’s time for them to start commenting on us – Dodik concluded.
He emphasized that Serbia’s problem is the blockade of its institutions, which has nothing to do with democracy or the right to express one’s views.
- *Serbia must never lose the opportunity to choose its representatives in legal elections, because that is the only acceptable approach in the democratic world and the EU, which Serbia aspires to join. No revolutionary, street-led, or color revolution is an option. Those taking to the streets must have a clear purpose—once upon a time, protests were about basic needs like food due to poverty. Today, they are mostly about demanding some additional freedoms, yet freedom is the right to choose. So, go to elections. Vučić has offered elections and even a referendum, yet they reject everything.
We have a serious legitimacy problem. We cannot allow the world to think that plenums elect the president—everyone knows how a president is elected. The question is how much freedom people in Serbia are being denied. There are those who do not support the protests, who want to study, travel, and live normally – Dodik concluded.
Source: RTRS
