VUČIĆ: HELEZ’S STATEMENTS ARE INCENDIARY, WE SHOULD REACT CALMLY TO PROVOCATIONS

BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 10 /SRNA/ - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that the statement by the Minister of Defense in the Council of Ministers, Zukan Helez, in which he called for the abolition of Republika Srpska, was incendiary and that such provocations must be met with calm, composure and stability.

“Some people clearly overestimate themselves, while they certainly underestimate others,” Vučić told reporters. Vučić added that such emotions, which are present even during the election campaign, clearly show what they think about Republika Srpska and the Dayton Peace Agreement. He stressed that Republika Srpska is an entity established under the Dayton Peace Agreement, based on international law and a treaty, and that if someone uses any opportunity to undermine it, then it is clear that the whole purpose of the controversy surrounding the funeral of General Ratko Mladić is to provide them with additional ammunition to achieve their political goals. Vučić also said that he did not understand the call for the suspension of the Agreement on Special Parallel Relations between Serbia and Republika Srpska, stressing that the agreement can only be suspended by the signatories themselves, acting jointly. “I don’t know how anyone else could suspend it when it is an agreement between Serbia and Republika Srpska! Surely Serbia would have to suspend it together with Republika Srpska, or Republika Srpska with Serbia. I really don’t understand who else could make such a decision,” Vučić said.