SAVIĆ: IZETBEGOVIĆ'S RHETORIC IS UNDERMINING AND DANGEROUS

BIJELJINA, JUNE 24 /SRNA/ – Bojan Savić, president of the SNSD City Board in Bijeljina, said that SDA leader Bakir Izetbegović`s remarks about SNSD President Milorad Dodik are not only irresponsible but represent a dangerous lowering of political discourse to a level where there is no longer room for democracy, reason or European values.

"In a country that has paid a high price for every call to conflict, statements that someone should be `removed by force` must not be made lightly", Savić told SRNA. According to him, such rhetoric is especially inappropriate coming from the son of Alija Izetbegović, who, he said, is using dangerous references to "resolving someone by force" as part of the SDA`s pre-election narrative, "as if he had learned nothing from his father's actions". Savić stressed that Izetbegović`s rhetoric is both dangerous and irresponsible. "When a politician begins speaking about force as a way of resolving political disagreements, he is effectively admitting that he has run out of ideas, arguments and confidence in his own policies", Savić stated. He added that Izetbegović`s statement represents a serious deterioration of political dialogue and is incompatible with democratic principles. At the same time, Savić argued that pressure directed against Republika Srpska produces the opposite effect from the desired. "History has taught us that pressure creates resistance, not obedience. Anyone who believes Republika Srpska can be disciplined through attacks will achieve only one thing - even stronger unity in defense of the will of the people. You will not succeed", Savić concluded. SDA President Bakir Izetbegović said during an appearance on Federal Television last night that Dodik "must be resolved by some force".