BUDIMIR: THE GREATEST ATTACK ON SRPSKA SINCE THE DAYTON AGREEMENT

BANJA LUKA, August 6 /SRNA/ - This is the greatest attack on the institutions of Republika Srpska since the Dayton Agreement, and Srpska must be institutionally protected from it, said Minister of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education Željko Budimir, following the decision by the BiH Central Election Commission /CEC/ to revoke the mandate of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik.

"We need to form a united institutional front against what has recently been legalized and legitimized through the joint institutions of BiH, the legalization of political persecution of the Serb people in BiH," Budimir stated. After meeting with the Rector of the University of Banja Luka Radoslav Gajanin, Budimir assessed that the CEC's decision will have serious consequences for Republika Srpska. He emphasized that now more than ever it is essential for all institutions, especially academic ones, to be informed about the political situation in order to create unified resistance to the attacks. He called on members of the academic community to stand on a common front in defense of the institutional framework of Republika Srpska. "We cannot merely observe the destruction of Republika Srpska. This is not an attack on a single individual or institution, it is an attack on the constitutional position of Republika Srpska and on the constituent status of the Serb people in BiH," said Budimir. Budimir believes that following the BiH Court's ruling, a series of initiatives will be launched to target the constitutional position of Republika Srpska, including constitutional reform, education system reform, changes to higher education, property laws, and more. "We must be ready to protect ourselves from that," Budimir stressed. He noted that he informed the leadership of the University of Banja Luka about the current political situation, which has triggered one of the most severe institutional crises in Republika Srpska and BiH. "This also concerns higher education and the role of the academic community in all of this. I informed the University leadership about what was done through the shameful and unlawful verdict of the BiH Court against the President, and the illegal decision by the CEC to revoke his mandate," said Budimir. He added that the University should continue to fulfill its obligations as planned.