Calls for what has been described as “Bosnian unity” are coming from political circles in Sarajevo, with Željko Komšić advocating closer cooperation among Sarajevo-based political parties.
Milorad Dodik responded by calling for the complete unification of pro-Serb political representatives if Sarajevo-based parties intend to consolidate around a pro-Bosnian political platform. He also claimed that political forces in Sarajevo have historically demonstrated hostility toward Serbs.
Dodik said that Serb political representatives should remain united in protecting the interests of Republika Srpska despite political pressures.
“When we say that our political goal is to affirm Serb national identity and Serb national sovereignty, the media in the Federation immediately attack us, claiming that someone is destroying Bosnia. There will be nothing of unitarization or a civic BiH, particularly following the firm position of U.S. President Trump’s administration that it is abandoning so-called nation-building projects. Which Bosnia? Bosnia has been destroyed. It cannot be maintained by force, and it cannot exist without agreement. Their notorious deception, which has lasted for almost 30 years, has failed,” Dodik said.
Komšić, however, said that a moment would come when it would be important for all parties headquartered in Sarajevo to act together.
“You were complaining recently, and we supported you in parliament and signed a joint declaration on state property. Why are you calling us if you think you do not need us? A moment will come when it will be important for all of us to stand together,” Komšić said.
Responding to Komšić, Dodik called for the complete consolidation of pro-Serb political representatives and urged opposition parties in Republika Srpska not to accept political initiatives coming from Sarajevo that he considers harmful to Republika Srpska’s interests.
“I believe they are not foolish, and if they want to unite around a pro-Bosnian platform, I am calling for the pro-Serb political platform to unite completely. All political representatives who receive mandates should come together, act jointly and not break ranks or become an appendage to those in Sarajevo. We should reject their offer aimed at building Bosnia. Bosnia does not interest us. Bosnia is a failure,” Dodik said.
Lawyer Ognjen Tadić argued that unity in BiH can exist only on the principle of equality, describing Komšić’s concept as an attempt to undermine the equality of the constituent peoples and entities.
“Željko Komšić has no grounds to call anyone to any kind of unity. Unity in Bosnia and Herzegovina has its own definition, and it is possible only among three equal constituent peoples and between two equal entities. Any other form of imagined unity based on the model proposed by Željko Komšić or anyone else is nothing more than an attempt to undermine the equality of the peoples and entities,” Tadić said.
Dodik also announced that he would seek an agreement with the opposition in Republika Srpska on a joint approach at the BiH level. According to his proposal, this would include abolishing the Court and Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, as well as significantly revising and limiting their jurisdiction to matters concerning relations at the BiH level.
He argued that these institutions should not be allowed to act as what he described as an “inquisition” against Republika Srpska.
Dodik also claimed that attempts to pursue further centralization through the judiciary would not succeed, arguing that such an approach represents a continuation of policies advocated by Bosniak political representatives.
Source: RTRS
