DODIK: IF WE HAD GIVEN IN, SRPSKA WOULD BE LEFT WITH ONLY PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

BIJELJINA, OCTOBER 22 /SRNA/ – President Milorad Dodik emphasizes that Republika Srpska would have been left with nothing but parks and playgrounds had it accepted the transfer of its property to the BiH level, which was Christian Schmidt’s intent.

“We said, if you go down that path, we will declare independence. They realized that could be dangerous,” Dodik stated, adding that afterward there was an attempt to remove him, followed by legal proceedings against him. Dodik said that he and his associates were placed on the blacklist because they refused to hand over property and allow the settlement of migrants in Republika Srpska. “If we had recognized Schmidt, everything he imposed would have become legal, it remains illegal in this way,” Dodik said at the public forum titled “Conversation with the President” held in Bijeljina. He mentioned that a migrant centre accommodating 4,000 people had been planned at the Five Lakes area in Bijeljina, as well as in Banja Luka /Zalužani/ and Trnovo. Dodik also says that Republika Srpska maintains good relations with Russia, Hungary, Azerbaijan, and Israel. He stressed that last year would have been very difficult if it weren’t for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whom he described as a great friend, and for Serbia as well. “When we speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin, we are, according to their definition, a strategic partner,” Dodik said, announcing continued dialogue with the friends in international arena. Speaking about the economy, Dodik states that Republika Srpska is around three billion Euros in debt, adding that this is not surprising given the scale of construction underway. He pointed out that Republika Srpska is the least indebted in the region, while others are significantly more burdened by debt. “I assure you that we are managing a secure Republika Srpska,” Dodik stressed, adding that four billion Euros in investments are expected in the coming year.