DODIK: SRPSKA IS THE GREATEST VALUE, ATTEMPTS TO CHALLENGE IT ARE NOT NAIVE

BANJA LUKA, JANUARY 9 /SRNA/ - SNSD President Milorad Dodik stated that attempts to challenge the celebration of Republic Day, January 9, should not be viewed naively, stressing that they represent an effort to dispute Republika Srpska and the right of the Serbian people to exist.

"We could also see their calls for establishing a civic state. We established our republic. We will reclaim our rights, or one day we will decide not to do anything at the level of BiH. Even Bosniaks are not satisfied with BiH. It is an illusion and a delusion that everything belongs to them. Their political leadership has that delusion," Dodik said. He emphasized that Republika Srpska does not lay claim to anyone else's property, adding that for Srpska, the FBiH is abroad. "We need to build relations of coexistence and trust, but we will not applaud their ideas and wishes," Dodik stated. Dodik also pointed to decisions by courts in Sarajevo banning the celebration of January 9, while at the same time allowing the marking of March 1, which Serbs remember for the murder of a Serbian wedding guest in Sarajevo, an event that triggered the outbreak of the war. "That is the madness we live in," Dodik said. Speaking to ATV, Dodik said that he has increasingly less faith in the existence and functioning of BiH. "The time of trust has passed. That is a mistake of Sarajevo, not ours, as they try to present it," Dodik emphasized. He thanked everyone who came to Banjaluka today for the ceremonial parade marking Republic Day, whether they participated or observed. "I saw many children there today. That is something that has real value. When everyone understands that, then we can talk," Dodik said.