DODIK: TALK OF FORMING A NEW POLITICAL MOVEMENT IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 18 /SRNA/ - President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik said this evening that the pompous talk of forming a new opposition political movement in Srpska is a sign of weakness, not strength.

Dodik stated that Draško Stanivuković and Igor Radojičić, who are expected to form the movement, are two completely different political figures who have joined forces to deceive the people. "For us, everything being built in that way is a good thing. Every new appearance, every new organization, ultimately leads to fragmentation - regardless of what they claim about unity," Dodik said. He noted that while Radojičić was a member of the SNSD, he made decisions and took actions that proved to be wrong, adding that he is glad Radojičić left the party. "Does anyone really believe that Radojičić and Stanivuković can create any sort of unity? Only if they're uniting over something else entirely. There's all sorts of talk going around," Dodik said. Dodik pointed out that the HDZ BiH demonstrates a certain level of rationality, though it pursues its own policies. "We have no illusions about them, just as they have none about us. But it's a rational policy based on dialogue - and they seek dialogue," Dodik said in an interview with RTRS. He warned, however, that the SDA seeks majorization. "They believe that everything belongs to them, that Serbs and Croats don't exist - and if they do, they must submit to Sarajevo's dictates. That's the whole problem. The HDZ doesn't take that approach," Dodik emphasized. He recalled that Serbs and Croats had very difficult moments throughout history, stressing that neither side wants to see those repeated. Dodik underlined that the only viable territory is the one you control, saying that Muslims are deluding themselves if they believe they can control Banjaluka, Mostar, Široki Brijeg, Laktaši, Trebinje, or Bijeljina. "They're lying to themselves. On the other hand, we have no desire to control Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zenica, Žepče, or anything else that belongs to them - nor Mostar, which belongs to the Croats," Dodik said. When asked about the work of the Republika Srpska Government led by Prime Minister Savo Minić, Dodik responded that the opposition initially claimed the government was illegitimate, yet now they debate with it in the National Assembly. "They are nothing but failure and deceit," he said. Dodik also dismissed claims that he transferred three billion BAM to Slovenia, saying he owns no property there. "Don't tell such blatant lies. But those primitives always lie on a grand scale," Dodik concluded.