Nenad Stevandić said that unity between the government and opposition parties is crucial when it comes to decisions of national and vital interest for Republika Srpska, ahead of the parliamentary vote on the Declaration on the closure of the OHR.
“What matters is that we can rationally discuss national interests and reach compromises. The fact is that Christian Schmidt is not leaving because of his salary or because he disliked being here. He is leaving partly because of our political resistance as well,” Stevandić said in an appearance on RTRS.
He argued that Schmidt openly sided against the Serbs and claimed that the political crisis demonstrated that Republika Srpska’s consent is necessary for the functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Schmidt is leaving, we remain, and we will not allow the OHR to continue behaving as it has until now,” Stevandić stated.
He added that political actors in the Federation of BiH will eventually have to recognize that Bosnia and Herzegovina can survive only if the rights of Republika Srpska are respected.
“We are not asking for secession, but that can become a consequence if someone attempts to abolish us,” he said.
Speaking about the proposed Declaration, Stevandić stressed that representatives in the National Assembly still have much work ahead, but expressed satisfaction that parties with differing political positions were able to unite around what he described as the national interest of Republika Srpska.
“Whoever understands that will vote for the Declaration. Whoever does not understand it, will not,” Stevandić concluded.
Source: RTRS
