DODIK: SUPPORT FOR CARRIERS FACING INJUSTICE FROM THE EU

BANJA LUKA, JANUARY 30 /SRNA/ - SNSD leader Milorad Dodik stated that he stands with the carriers who are being treated unfairly by the European side, and emphasized that this example shows the true nature of Europe that is being offered to local Serbs.

Dodik highlighted that the EU's treatment of truck drivers from BiH, who are treated like tourists in the Schengen area, shows that Brussels regards people from this country as inferior, seeing that Sarajevo has been subservient and compliant in its dealings with them. "In any case, the path to Europe is not a path of constantly giving away sovereignty, but of establishing partnerships. If that is missing, what use is Europe to us?" Dodik asked. At a press conference in Banja Luka, he emphasized that Europe is not trucks full of goods from Republika Srpska and BiH that cannot leave the country. "We have millions in losses, and who will compensate for that? What could we, local politicians, have done in terms of the administrative measures imposed by Brussels!? They did this so that our drivers would have to register in Germany. Why aren't we treated equally?" Dodik asked. He said that the damage to the economy caused by the carriers' protests is irreparable, and that this shows the kind of Europe being offered to local Serbs, where they will not have equal status or any real decision-making power. "The EU is a lie, and they cannot believe that there are political subjects here willing to give away their sovereignty for nothing. The way they treat our drivers today, they will treat all people tomorrow. We don't need such a Europe," Dodik said. The carriers' protest began on Monday, January 26, at noon, due to mounting problems related to drivers' stays in Schengen countries, with the new EU entry system being the latest issue. They argue that drivers are now being treated almost like tourists and are demanding to be exempted from the 90/180-day rule. Yesterday, the Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska called on the consortium Logistics BiH to direct its protest activities at BiH institutions, primarily the Council of Ministers, since the border blockade is paralyzing Republika Srpska's economy, which is already suffering significant losses.