DODIK: SANCTIONS PROVED SENSELESS, SRPSKA ECONOMICLY STABLE

BANJA LUKA, JANUARY 23 /SRNA/ - The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik has stated today in Banja Luka that the sanctions imposed on the officials of Srpska proved to be pointless and unsuccessful, which is also indicated by the fact that the Republic is economically stable.

"In the economic sense, last year we were positive and provided economic growth of 2.9 percent of the gross domestic product /GDP/. The most important economies of the world were in recession, such as Germany, which reduced the export potential of Srpska," said Dodik at the press conference. He pointed out that, despite everything, economic parameters can be guaranteed that Srpska can move on. "Last year's economy was successful in almost all elements, even though unprincipled non-economic measures were carried out, even towards the banking sector," Dodik added. He mentioned that last year GDP increased from BAM 16 to 18 billion. "It is a great success that should be noticed by the academic community and the media. I want to praise the Prime Minister, his team, the Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović. If we continue like that this year, and we have the intention, we will show that we are good at managing the economy," Dodik stressed. He stated that the indebtedness of Republika Srpska increased in the last 10 years by BAM one billion, and everything was directed to investments. "GDP is 18 billion, and the debt of Srpska is BAM six billion. We have never had a smaller debt, which is a matter of pride for all citizens. Our debt is low, and last year we had a budget deficit of 0.5 percent, 32 percent public debt and a total debt of 34 percent, which is a good indicator for all objective economists," said Dodik.