THIRD LANE OVER ROMANIJA WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN BUILT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR OBSTRUCTION AND MANIPULATION

BANJA LUKA, JULY 7 /SRNA/ - President Milorad Dodik said that today in Sokolac he would officially mark the start of works on the third lane for slow-moving vehicles as part of the continued modernisation of the road from Zvornik to Istočno Sarajevo, stressing that it would have been completed earlier had it not been for the obstruction by certain interest groups and a commission at the level of BiH that is halting the works.

Dodik said that a network of groups engaged in manipulation had emerged in Republika Srpska and across BiH, filing complaints against every tender and pressuring successful bidders by demanding money from them to withdraw, and if they refuse, they then take the matter to a commission at the level of BiH. "That commission has become the most important place in the world. It is an absurd system introduced in BiH whereby that commission can decide on procedures for projects ranging from one million to one and a half billion, such as motorways. Many projects have been halted," Dodik told reporters in Sokolac. He pointed out that the section from Zvornik to Sokolac had been completely reconstructed and that work was now continuing through the third-lane project towards Pale, in order to connect Istočno Sarajevo with Zvornik and, further, with Serbia. "We plan to introduce a third lane at all points where traffic slows down and to make the reconstruction of this road a priority in the development of the road network in Republika Srpska," Dodik said. After visiting the construction site of the street leading to the Serb military cemetery of Novi Zejtinlik in Sokolac, Dodik said that 14 months ago it had been stated that access to such an important site had to be improved. As he explained, the delay was due to the need to complete the design work and carry out public procurement procedures, but he noted that Republika Srpska demonstrates internal stability, strong domestic investment momentum and integration. "The heroes are buried at this cemetery. Some of the graves have been damaged by the passage of time, and that is why Republika Srpska has allocated funds for the complete reconstruction of 187 tombstones," Dodik said. On this occasion, the delegation, which included Prime Minister Savo Minić, expressed condolences to the Barjaktarević family, whose two sons killed in the war are buried here, and whose father has now also been laid to rest here. "These tragic fates must compel us to pause and help these people," Dodik said. He pointed out that Sokolac had previously been recognised as a major investment site and that, during the time when the municipality had an SNSD mayor, the sports hall that had long been awaited was completed. He noted that after that, Sokolac's budget fell into crisis and investment was no longer possible, but that it could now be said that everything had stabilised and that work had resumed. "Politicians are worth only as much as what they leave behind," Dodik reiterated, expressing satisfaction that, when it comes to the kindergarten, this issue has been brought to a close in Sokolac.