DODIK: RUSSIA PRINCIPLED IN DEFENDING SRPSKA

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 30 /SRNA/ – President Milorad Dodik says Russia is principled in defending Republika Srpska by respecting the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Constitution of BiH, as demonstrated by its actions in the UN Security Council.

“What Russia understands well is that the problem lies in undermining the Constitution of BiH. We have never said that we do not want a constitution in BiH. We have said that we do not want its destruction,” Dodik said at a press conference in Banja Luka following his visit to Russia. He says Russia believes the high representative issue should have been resolved long ago. “There is no such thing as a high representative of the international community; according to the Dayton, there is a high representative of international signatory to Annex 10,” Dodik recalled, adding that Russia’s position is that the Constitution of BiH and the Dayton Peace Agreement must be respected. Speaking about Christian Schmidt, he said that Russia did not support his arrival in BiH and that it had also pointed to disputability of his office before the UN Security Council. He recalled that Russia withdrew from the Peace Implementation Council because it believed that the body was usurping the authorities of BiH, and that it voted against high representatives’ decisions before the UN Security Council as it did not support. Speaking about the EUFOR Althea mission, Dodik said that its mandate to maintain peace was not in question, but that it must be clearly defined what mission members are and are not permitted to do. “They should exclusively stand between the parties if, God forbid, a conflict occurs, and do nothing more,” Dodik said, adding that any activity beyond the mandate could cause additional concern among the population. Reflecting on political relations in BiH, Dodik said that stability cannot be built on hatred. “You cannot build anything on hatred. You can build on love, but you cannot build anything on hatred. You can only undermine,” Dodik said. He stated that Republika Srpska is making efforts to preserve peace and stability, adding that his own withdrawal from the position of Republika Srpska president was also a rational step aimed at preserving stability. Speaking about the publication of a monograph on BiH Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic activities, Dodik said that it contains what Muslims did between 1991 and 1995. He added that Republika Srpska does not accept the use of joint institutions and public resources for activities directed against Srpska.