DODIK: GRATITUDE TO VUČIĆ FOR CHANGING SERBIA'S OFFICIAL POLICY TOWARDS SRPSKA

BUGOJNO, AUGUST 3 /SRNA/ –President Milorad Dodik today thanked Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić in Bugojno for changing Serbia's official policy towards Republika Srpska and Serbs living in the FBiH.

"In the past, Serbia’s officials distanced from us. We appealed for attention and support, but it did not come in the way we expected, not even to a minimal extent. When Vučić came to power, that changed, and Serbia no longer treated us as strangers," Dodik told the press. Dodik recalled that since Vučić came to power, patients and students from Republika Srpska have no longer been treated as foreigners in Serbia. "Thanks to President Vučić, Serbia has invested BAM 140 million in Republika Srpska, and we cannot forget that. What we agreed on over the past few days during our visits to Šipovo, Drvar and the Serb municipality of Kupres will change the lives of our people there," Dodik said. Dodik particularly highlighted the water supply project in Novo Selo, where residents have never had access to a water supply system. Dodik stressed that all of these are being carried out jointly by Serbia and Republika Srpska. He also said that Serbs live in the area and that Vučić grew up there as a Serb, adding that he was never a so-called Bosnian Serb. "I am proud to be a Serb. I am proud of Serbia's development and its strength. Here, Croats and Muslims think it benefits them when Serbia is doing poorly. Those are official political declarations and part of their plans or wishes. They did everything they could to prevent Serbia from growing," Dodik said. He added that he is proud of Serbia's progress. "I proudly travel to Serbia, and my heart is full whenever I arrive anywhere in Serbia. Every time we come, we see how Serbia is developing and being built," Dodik emphasized. Dodik stressed he was pleased to have had the opportunity to visit the house of Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić's father in the village of Čipuljić near Bugojno.