ŠKIPINA: BAKIR PROMISED THEM POWER, BUT NOT THROUGH THE PEOPLE’S VOTES - RATHER THROUGH FORCE FROM SARAJEVO

PALE, JUNE 24 /SRNA/ - If someone had any doubts until now about the true political platform of Draško Stanivuković and Branko Blanuša, after the Sarajevo signing, there should be none left, SNSD member of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Damjan Škipina told SRNA.

"That is not any European path, nor any reform, nor any new policy. It is the old and well-known plan of political Sarajevo to, through obedient partners from Republika Srpska, complete what could not be achieved through pressure, threats, or fabricated trials - to weaken Republika Srpska and bring to its leadership those who will nod in agreement to every demand of Bakir Izetbegović," Škipina said. That’s why, Škipina told SRNA, it is no coincidence that Bakir Izetbegović is publicly praising the document signed in Sarajevo by Branko Blanuša and Draško Stanivuković. "Bakir is not praising the paper because he sees anything good for Republika Srpska in it, but because he sees in it a promise that people willing to hand over what he has been trying to take for years — institutions, property, jurisdictions, and the political will of the Serbian people, will finally come from Banja Luka," Škipina said. He added that Bakir, however, does not offer them power through elections, because he knows well, as they do too, that the people of Republika Srpska will not elect them to govern Republika Srpska. "That is why he offers them what he can offer them - power through force, via politically motivated proceedings, illegitimate courts and prosecutors, attacks on the President of the Republic, assaults on the property of Republika Srpska, and attempts to declare every democratic decision of the Serbian people a problem that must be solved in Sarajevo. That is why Stanivuković and Blanuša are silent today. They are silent about what they signed. They are silent about why Bakir is praising them. They are silent about whether, with their signature, they gave consent for Republika Srpska to be stripped of its powers, for its property to be taken away, and for power within it to be achieved with the help of the same centres of power that have been trying for years to break it. They are silent because they know that any answer would amount to an admission that, to gain power, they are prepared to do anything," Škipina stressed. He said that the people of Republika Srpska must therefore clearly understand what this is about. This is no longer a political competition between the government and the opposition, he says, but an attempt to create a coalition in Republika Srpska of those who want to govern without the support of the people, but with the support of Bakir Izetbegović, political Sarajevo, and all those who would like Republika Srpska to be weak, obedient, and without the right to decide for itself. "That is why the response from Republika Srpska will be clear. We will not allow Bakir to choose our government. We will not allow the political will of the Serbian people to be changed in courtrooms, embassies, and Sarajevo offices. We will not allow those who were not willing to stand on the front line of defending Republika Srpska to today pretend to be its representatives, while in Sarajevo they sign papers that are praised by Bakir Izetbegović," Škipina said. He said that Republika Srpska has survived far more serious attacks than the attack by this Sarajevo pact, and that it will also survive this coalition built on hatred toward Milorad Dodik and a willingness to trample everything for a handful of power - political integrity, party tradition, and the interests of Republika Srpska. "That is why the people of Republika Srpska will once again stand with those who defend it, and not with those who sign it away in Sarajevo," Škipina stressed.