DE-ESCALATE SITUATION IN BiH, SRPSKA KEEPS TAKING THE PATH OF STABILITY AND REFUSES TO ACCEPT IMPOSED DECISIONS

BANJA LUKA, JULY 9 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik says that after the latest BiH Court’s decision revoking custody for him, National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, and Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Višković, Republika Srpska will keep taking its path of stability, strengthening its powers and rights, and rejecting imposed decisions, assessing this as the first step toward a certain de-escalation of the situation in BiH.

Dodik emphasized that the first thing that must be done is to annul everything imposed by Christian Schmidt, as he is illegitimate. "If they want to de-escalate the situation in BiH, then several things must be done, and we are ready to do a few things. If what we have done is not understood as a good step toward de-escalating the problems in BiH, and Schmidt meanwhile imposes something new, then that sends us the message that they solely want to destabilize and radicalize the situation in BiH. If Schmidt causes destabilization, I’m not sure how we will get out of it," Dodik warned. He stressed that the Republika Srpska top officials will continue performing their duties, as they have done it so far. "This shouldn’t have even happened in the first place, as far as we are concerned. This was a politically motivated process produced by the OHR, which has no authority," Dodik told RTRS. If they wish, Dodik said, to return BiH to the European path, Republika Srpska has opened the door. "If they slam it shut, we will weld it shut," Dodik said. Dodik says he is not against the existence of a single level of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office and Court for laws adopted in accordance with the Constitution by the BiH Parliament, but he is against Schmidt’s imposed decisions. "I am against the unconstitutional BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office that act and rule based on the decisions made by internationals," Dodik emphasized. He said it is possible to strengthen the authority of the BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office by regulating them through law, clearly stating that their jurisdiction applies only to matters legislated by the BiH Parliamentary Assembly in accordance with the Constitution, thereby developing the legal system as permitted by the Constitution. Speaking about his recent visit to the BiH Prosecutor’s Office and Court, Dodik emphasized that it is perfectly clear to everyone in BiH and beyond that the entire process against him is politically motivated. "The process against National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić and Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Višković is also politically motivated," Dodik stated. Commenting on Judge Sena Uzunović’s criminal complaint against him, Dodik questioned her professionalism, noting that she now goes around Sarajevo claiming she was under pressure to act the way she did. Dodik said that Uzunović wanted to imprison him because of their political differences, which, according to him, means she is not a lawyer. "You talk about the independence of the judiciary. Admit you were under pressure. I would have more respect if she just admitted she was forced to act the way she did, rather than pretending to be independent," Dodik stated, adding that this does not reflect well on Uzunović. Dodik said Uzunović was asked to act in accordance with the Constitution and law, which she failed to do, alleging she lied and wrote a 100-page explanation. The Republika Srpska president claimed that Uzunović received favours for her actions, which could be proven, adding that her relatives who requested such favours benefited from it. "She aimed to imprison my family by imprisoning me," Dodik said. He further alleged that the word “odvjetnik/ lawyer” was a code word during the early BiH Court sessions, suggesting Uzunović knew exactly what this meant and implying it referred to a secret arrangement. "At one point, when she agreed to something she had sought, she was supposed to confirm her part in the deal by saying 'lawyer from Belgrade and odvjetnik/lawyer from Zagreb.' If she said that word, it meant she confirmed it should be finalized, which she did," Dodik claimed. The Republika Srpska president stated that the entire matter would eventually be resolved before the European Court of Justice, which, according to him, is the proper procedure to protect the rights. He added he would prove Judge Uzunović was merely an instrument of Michael Murphy and the so-called Sarajevo mafia. Dodik concluded by saying that he does not feel triumphant, but rather exhausted and disgusted by the constant court appearances, speculations, lies, and attacks. "They lied, calling me a warmonger, saying I’m some Russian or other foreign agent. Not once have I mentioned war or done anything to contribute to the hysteria and hatred directed at me," Dodik said.