MAZALICA: INTERNATIONAL APPROACH TO BiH IS CHANGING

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 23 /SRNA/ – Srđan Mazalica, head of the SNSD Caucus in the Republika Srpska National Assembly, told SRNA that invitation to Željka Cvijanović to attend the traditional reception hosted by the US president, despite not being the Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency, proves that the international approach toward BiH is changing.

Mazalica emphasized that this is a precedent in established practice and an important political message that Washington wants to hear the views of Republika Srpska as well, rather than only political Sarajevo's interpretation. "I would not view this merely as a matter of protocol. Particularly following Cvijanović's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, it is clear that Republika Srpska now has an opportunity to present its positions directly in places where U.S. policy is shaped," Mazalica said. He added that Republika Srpska’s message is simple. "We are not against BiH, but against imposition; we are not in favour of crises, but of agreement; and we are calling for BiH to finally begin functioning as a sovereign country in which decisions are made by local, democratically elected representatives," Mazalica emphasized. He recalled that Cvijanović, while in New York, specifically emphasized her opposition to imposition, while expressing support for dialogue, peace, and stability. "In the end, we witnessed two approaches in New York – one that asks internationals to intervene against others in BiH, and another that talks to internationals in order to return decision-making process to the people of BiH. I believe it is clear which of these two approaches has a future," Mazalica said. Željka Cvijanović, the Serb BiH Presidency member, said that it was a great honour for her to attend the reception hosted by US President Donald Trump on the occasion of the UN General Assembly session in New York.