DODIK: ATTEMPT TO WEAKEN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA WILL NOT SUCCEED AT ANY PRICE

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 25 /SRNA/ - President Milorad Dodik said today that if the EU wants BiH to pursue a European path, Republika Srpska must have a visible presence and its constitutional structure and positions must be respected, adding that any attempt to weaken Srpska would not succeed at any price.

“Republika Srpska has no objection to BiH’s European path, except that the current structures have abused it, above all the European Commission ambassador and other ambassadors from EU countries. They have tried to adapt or impose the European path on us as something that means weakening Republika Srpska and further centralizing BiH,” Dodik told reporters in Banja Luka. He emphasized that the European path so far had borne the hallmarks of an anti-Serb path and stressed that this would not be tolerated. “Europe may be a challenge, but there is no longer the same enthusiasm for it as before. As soon as they started issuing threats and imposing sanctions on those who supposedly do not want the European path, that showed that Europe is in a sorry state. It would be wise to stop and see where Europe is heading. It was once attractive because of certain projects, but it is obvious that they have spent all the money at their disposal in Ukraine,” Dodik emphasized. Speaking about the Reform Agenda, Dodik said it had also been designed to further centralize BiH and weaken Republika Srpska, stressing that this would not happen for any amount of money in the world, especially not money intended to buy our freedom. “If Europe wants to see us on the European path, then Republika Srpska must be visible, which means that its constitutional position and views must be respected. If that is not the case, what do we need Europe for?” Dodik emphasized.