President of the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska Ljubiša Ćosić stated that now everyone must stand united in supporting the institutions of Srpska, rather than engaging in election battles for which the time has not come.
Ćosić told Srna that the Association adopted a Declaration rejecting the verdict against Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, with the intention of showing that local communities stand by the institutions of Srpska.
“I am certain that all municipalities and cities will adopt the Declaration and that we will thereby demonstrate our political unity, manifested in the preservation of institutions. We do not directly influence the processes that some are leading and imposing on us, however, we directly send the message that we stand behind the institution of the President of Republika Srpska,” said Ćosić.
He noted that there is no municipality or city where the President of Republika Srpska has not visited and provided assistance through the influence of his office.
“We primarily stand behind Milorad Dodik as someone who represents the institution of the President of Republika Srpska. Then, those who wish to, also stand behind the name Milorad Dodik,” Ćosić pointed out.
He reminded that 50 representatives of municipalities and cities at the extraordinary session of the Association in Banja Luka on August 8 were unanimous and that everything has been proceeding as planned.
Ćosić emphasized that the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska recognized the seriousness of the situation and showed unity.
“There were also people from the opposition who voted for the Declaration at the Assembly of the Association. What is very specific when it comes to the opposition is that their inconsistency is reflected in the fact that in some local communities they unanimously support it, while in others they don’t. That says everything about what the opposition is today, what hierarchy it has in its actions, and how it even perceives Republika Srpska. They see Republika Srpska from one local community to another— in one they hate SNSD more, in another less, or they understand the importance of what is happening today,” Ćosić said.
He stressed that those who are aware, who are not prematurely fighting election battles, give their support to the Declaration.
“We will all have time to fight election battles, we will all be tested by the people. Those who win will stay, those who lose will go,” said Ćosić, who is also the mayor of East Sarajevo.
The Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska adopted the Declaration on August 8, stating that the verdict against President Dodik does not reflect the spirit of law or the principles of justice, but is instead an act of political pressure aimed at influencing the democratic will of the people and the legitimacy of the institutions of Republika Srpska.
The mayors and municipal leaders who participated in the extraordinary session of the Association called on their colleagues to adopt the Declaration in their local assemblies, stressing that they will always stand against the undermining of the position of Srpska and by those who genuinely fight for it.
Source: RTRS
