Milorad Dodik, president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), said that Republika Srpska has endured because it lives as a state, and that at this moment its rights have been fully rehabilitated.
“Today we have reached a position where Republika Srpska is recognized as a place where an injustice was committed. Today we are discussing this at relevant venues, from Washington to Russia,” Dodik said at the Assembly of the Association Creators of Republika Srpska, held in Pale.
Dodik stressed that over the past six months Muslims have lost the propaganda they used in an attempt to discredit Republika Srpska.
“I believe there will be additional easing of our position,” Dodik said.
“I have no promises from U.S. President Donald Trump or his associates, but today in the United States no one is talking about the Dayton Peace Agreement,” Dodik added.
He noted that an important fact today is that the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina has never been changed.
“That is the policy we are pursuing,” Dodik said, adding that Bosnia and Herzegovina is now more divided than before—into Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He emphasized that current efforts are focused on returning to the Dayton Peace Agreement as the basis for further work.
Dodik warned that attempts to impose centralization on Republika Srpska are constant, stressing that narratives about so-called civic rights and the principle of “one man, one vote” would be deadly.
“Every measure toward the European Union has moved in the direction of imposing centralization and unitarization on us,” Dodik said.
He added that he is more concerned about conformism within Republika Srpska.
“Some now think it might be better with the Muslims. The only possible solution is to impose the issues of the Serb people in the proper way,” Dodik said.
Dodik stressed the importance of marking February 28, when 34 years ago the first Constitution of Republika Srpska was proclaimed.
“I respected the fact that the leadership of the Serb people at the time knew what it was doing. We understood the time that was coming and that we were expected to be firm in certain matters,” Dodik said.
He added that he is proud to have been part of the group of people who recognized the moment and did not calculate.
“Today it can certainly be said that the positions and perseverance of the leadership at the time did not lead to bad solutions,” Dodik said.
He also emphasized that March 1 is observed as a Day of Mourning in Republika Srpska.
“That day is destined for Serbs to always be under some form of attack,” Dodik concluded.
Source: RTRS
