ALLIANCE OF SERBS OF SLOVENIA SUPPORTS CALL FOR LIFTING SANCTIONS AGAINST DODIK

BELGRADE, DECEMBER 19 /SRNA/ – The President of the Alliance of Serbs of Slovenia Zoran Ristović has told SRNA that he supports the initiative for the Slovenian authorities, following the example of the United States, to lift sanctions imposed on SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, which were introduced in September while he was serving as the President of Republika Srpska.

"I believe the sanctions will be lifted with a change of government, since elections are upcoming in Slovenia. I do not think they will last. We should wait for elections in Slovenia at all levels," Ristović assessed. He noted that the leader of the Slovenian National Party, Zmago Jelinčič, was right to submit an initiative to the Slovenian government to lift the sanctions on Dodik, stressing that their introduction is completely contradictory for Serbs living in Slovenia. Reminding that 80 percent of members of the Alliance of Serbs of Slovenia are Serbs originally from Republika Srpska, Ristović said that for anyone from Serbia or Srpska, such sanctions are unacceptable, and it is natural that they oppose them. He added that he supports Republika Srpska and Dodik and does not even know why the sanctions were imposed in the first place. "That is the fundamental question. Was this done to show strength over a people who have survived a Golgotha? Might be. And that rhetoric against Israel—do you think Slovenians support that? I don't think so," Ristović said. He described Jelinčič as a genuine nationalist, saying that he is fair and respects what he does. Jelinčič’s initiative calls on the Slovenian government to reassess and comprehensively review the sanctions and restrictive measures Slovenia imposed on Republika Srpska and Dodik, citing significant changes in the international approach to the situation in BiH, particularly developments in Republika Srpska.