BLAGOJEVICH: BOSNIAK POLITICIANS UNDERMINING DAYTON AGREEMENT BY WORKING WITH SCHMIDT

VIŠEGRAD, JUNE 26 /SRNA/ – American politician of Serbian origin and former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has said today that Bosniak politicians are undermining the Dayton Peace Accords by cooperating with unelected foreign official Christian Schmidt, who is attempting to take away the autonomy of the Serb people in BiH.

Blagojevich told reporters in Višegrad that this is an issue of democracy and the rule of law, of people's right to elect their leaders, have their own government, and exercise autonomy. "This is no small matter. As an American of Serbian origin, I thank the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, for having the courage to stand up for what is right for the Serb people," Blagojevich emphasized. He stated that because of his willingness to oppose the German politician Schmidt, President Dodik was portrayed negatively in today’s statement by St. Louis Governor Ann Wagner, who, as Blagojevich stressed, lacks a clear understanding of what is happening in Republika Srpska, let alone BiH. According to Blagojevich, Congresswoman Wagner claims to respect the Dayton Peace Accords, yet she fails to acknowledge that Serbs are among its signatories and that they are fulfilling their obligations under the agreement. The reality, Blagojevich underlined, is that Bosniak politicians are the ones violating the Dayton Accords. "My duty as a Serbian immigrant is to return to the United States and inform all those willing to listen about the injustice faced by the Serbs here, particularly at the hands of the German politician Christian Schmidt. I also want to remind Americans of something this congresswoman doesn’t know. My suggestion to Congresswoman Wagner is to come join us here, because we are on the side of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law," Blagojevich said. During his visit to Višegrad, Blagojevich expressed gratitude to the municipal mayor Mladen Đurević for the warm welcome, stating that Višegrad will become a magnet for tourists, not only from the former Yugoslavia but from all over Europe and the world. “I also believe it will attract Americans, because when we return home, we’ll speak only the best about Višegrad and how beautiful it is,” Blagojevich stated. He added that today he had the opportunity to visit the site where Yugoslav Army in the Homeland Commander Dragoljub Draža Mihailović was captured in 1946, and said he is the only member of U.S. Congress in history who knows the song “Sprem’te se, sprem’te četnici”, which his father, who served in the Royal Yugoslav Army, taught him. Blagojevich, a close associate of U.S. President Donald Trump, arrived in Republika Srpska on Sunday, June 22, at the invitation of President Milorad Dodik. Over the past days, he has met with top officials of Republika Srpska, to whom he offered strong support. Following talks with Dodik, Blagojevich stated that he would inform U.S. President Donald Trump about what is happening in Srpska, whose rights are being threatened by an unelected bureaucrat.