DODIK: THE FUTURE OF THE SERB PEOPLE LIES IN A NATIONAL PEOPLE'S STATE

BELGRADE, FEBRUARY 27 /SRNA/ - The leader of the SNSD Milorad Dodik, stated this evening in Belgrade that the future of the Serb people lies in a national people's state and that Serbs must not lose Serbia, Republika Srpska, and Kosovo and Metohija.

At a ceremonial reception at the Army Hall in Belgrade marking January 9 - Republic Day, and February 28 - the day of the adoption of the first Constitution of Republika Srpska, Dodik emphasized that Republika Srpska would not exist today if it had not been Serbian. "What we built into it was our historical aspiration and struggle for freedom," Dodik said. He stressed that Republika Srpska is successfully living its life because it is a people's republic and has never acted against its people, nor has the people in Republika Srpska ever violently overthrown their own government. "We were formed to be independent. Our idea that year was nothing other than to have an independent state that would live together with Serbia. And we lived that until the Dayton Agreement, which began to collapse the moment it was signed," Dodik emphasized. According to him, BiH was not a choice for the Serb people then, nor is it today. "BiH resembles old Ottoman practices when living people were tied to corpses until they went mad or died of fear. Today we are tied to a corpse called BiH, and we must speak clearly about this because that BiH gives us in Republika Srpska no reason to believe in any form of its existence," Dodik said. He stated that the Serb people must reject any ideology imposed on them that is not part of the Serbian strategic national vision. “We must devote ourselves to ourselves and no longer accept any outside idea as our own. We Serbs in these areas must unite and clearly say what we want, reject the divisions that were always created to humiliate us and take something away from us,” Dodik said. Dodik emphasized that now is the time for the Serb people as a whole to redefine their position, noting that the All-Serb Assembly has produced a document that could serve as a national strategy. "It should be read again, returned to, and implemented. No one will give us anything unless we fight for it," Dodik said. He recalled that in the previous century the Serb people were at war for 18 years and under sanctions for more than 20 years. "Few nations today could endure such losses and still remain united, strong, and again considered an obstacle. We must gather around realistic and wise policies. We will achieve nothing through appeasement; there are Serbs who know this, and whenever they led us, we lost," he said. Dodik stated that Serbia and Republika Srpska must one day become one state, as they are one people. "If the Germans could say 'one state for one nation,' today I say one state for one Serbian people," Dodik said. He added that Serbs must not easily renounce their presidents, leaders, and military commanders, because if they do so today, they will lose any form of future. Dodik also said that Serbs should see an opportunity and their place in the policies of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. "I no longer believe the fervent European leaders who treat us here as if we are incapable, as if we do not know how to do anything. What they demand that Serbia, Republika Srpska, and BiH fulfill in order to join the EU cannot be fulfilled by 18 current EU member states," Dodik stated. He noted that Republika Srpska is currently facing new challenges but continues to demonstrate vitality. "Serbia is always behind us, even when we make mistakes, we know that Serbia stands behind us. We must not lose Republika Srpska, Serbia, or Kosovo; we must redefine ourselves and show what our absolutely achievable goals are. The more they fragment us, the easier it will be to defeat us," Dodik said. According to him, it is important to unite around key national issues and the Serbian Orthodox Church, which he says is under attack in BiH. "In the Federation of BiH, our church land is being taken and registered under public authorities that are Muslim. In Sarajevo, land is being registered and sold to the Islamic Republic of Iran, while we are told we cannot own property," Dodik said. "In such conditions, Serbs cannot live. You must hear us. The world must hear us. I am convinced in the strength of our people and our will. Long live Serbia! Long live Republika Srpska!" Dodik concluded. The ceremonial reception, organized by the Representation of Republika Srpska in Serbia, was attended by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Nenad Stevandić, Prime Minister Savo Minić, envoy of the President of Serbia Miloš Vučević, Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo as envoy of His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch, as well as ministers of Republika Srpska and Serbia, members of parliament, representatives of the Serbian Armed Forces, and cultural and public figures.