CVIJANOVIĆ: PRESENCE OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS REQUIRED, MAINLY AMERICANS

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 27 /SRNA/ – SNSD Deputy Leader Željka Cvijanović has stated today that, if snap elections are held in Republika Srpska, it will be necessary to have international observers present, predominantly American ones.

Cvijanović has assessed that a dominant presence of American observers is needed because various manipulations are possible. "We would like to see American observers in a dominant number, if it is feasible at all to talk about elections because we have not yet received any detailed information about how certain procurements will be conducted," Cvijanović told the press in Banja Luka. She emphasized that she has the right to her political opinion while mentioning American observers. Cvijanović also asked whether snap elections would even be held, stressing that the SNSD is fully prepared. She recalled that these elections were imposed unlawfully, forcing imposition of Christian Schmidt’s law, after which a court process followed. According to her, the snap elections are unnecessary, excessive, the Schmidt’s elections, but even under such circumstances, the SNSD wants to demonstrate its strength. "All of this is illegal and has nothing to do with the Dayton Peace Agreement. Still, as the SNSD, we are the most responsible and largest party, the best organised, aware of the challenges and traps they’ve prepared so that someone with five or ten percent of public support might end up leading the most important institutions," Cvijanović explained. She said that the real intention behind all this was to target the president of Republika Srpska and the one who had the courage to stand up to a foreigner. Cvijanović noted that the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement is approaching, and soon after that, it will have to be decided whether there is a solution for BiH or not. "This way of functioning does not inspire hope among citizens, nor does it give them legal certainty or any real credibility to the elected people," said Cvijanović, who also serves as the Serb BiH Presidency member. She pointed out that citizens go voting, elect their representatives, and then someone says it doesn’t matter who was elected because an individual can impose laws and demonstrate power above democratically elected institutions. Cvijanović believes the entire situation will require serious unraveling, given the involvement of international politician with no sense of responsibility with disruptive or imposing ambitions. She has stressed that Republika Srpska is a credible factor with concrete solutions and wants to engage in dialogue because the current situation is unsustainable. "We expect that things will eventually be untangled, and we will certainly play an active role in that. Finally, we have already stepped into that active role. Whoever has recognised that, has recognised it," Cvijanović concluded.