The leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, Milorad Dodik, said today in Banja Luka that after his visit to Israel, “nothing will be the same” for the RS and reiterated that he insists on returning the Dayton powers to the RS, and above all, that it “conducts the elections itself”. Evaluating that his visit to Israel, where he was with the Acting President of the RS Ana Trišić Babić, was a “statesmanship”, he pointed out that “the highest officials of Israel are convinced that the Dayton Agreement no longer exists, that it is not respected and that the position of the RS must be redefined in the international sense”.
Dodik announced that he will visit Hungary tomorrow, where he will meet with Prime Minister Viktor Odbor. He also said that at the beginning of next week, he will travel to the Prayer Breakfast in Washington organized by US President Donald Trump, and that the member of the BiH Presidency, Željka Cvijanović, will also be visiting the US tomorrow. He added that he still supports the policy of Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also announced a visit to Serbia, although, as he said, “it has not been fully agreed upon”.
Dodik once again accused the high representative who “needs to be expelled from Bosnia and Herzegovina”, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, “political Sarajevo”, the opposition in the RS of “neoliberal structures” in Western countries, and once again said that Bosnia and Herzegovina “will not exist for much longer”. “I call on the people to go towards our autonomy, the return of the people and finally the independence of the RS”, said Dodik with the assessment that it is high time for the “right to self-determination”, calling on the Serbs in BiH to gather “around their country, which is called Republika Srpska”.
As Radio-Television RS (RTRS) directly broadcast the party conference of the ruling Union of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), opposition MP Igor Crnadak wrote on social media that “this is not normal” because “people did not die so that Srpska would be an ATM and the private property of a small group of people! The SNSD is not above Srpska. Enough is enough!”.
Criticism of the Dayton Agreement and “loss of jurisdiction”
Dodik further stated that the Serbs lost key state resources as part of the Dayton Agreement: “We lost the army, the border police, indirect taxes, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Court and the intelligence service imposed on us. All of this must be returned if you want us to at least temporarily give up the path to self-determination.”
The SNSD president warned that, while many citizens may not be aware of the seriousness of the moment, he considers it his duty to speak publicly about these issues.
Award from Israel and international context
Dodik also highlighted the recognition he received in Israel, stressing that he dedicates the award to the Republika Srpska and the path to self-determination: “I am happy to have received one of the greatest awards given by the Israeli parliament on behalf of the Serbian people. I dedicate it to the RS and the freedom of the Serbian people.”
He additionally commented on international politics: “Israel has the right to exist and fight for its freedom. In addition to Russia, America and our allies Serbia and Hungary, the visit to Israel is of great importance. We agreed on many things that will be visible in the coming period.”
Criticism of the Constitutional Court and the High Representative
Dodik particularly criticized the Constitutional Court and the engagement of the high representative, claiming that the story of the Dayton Agreement is “completely collapsing”. “Look at what they are doing to us. They are sentencing people who raise three fingers to three years in prison. Now they are robbing us of the property of the SPC in the Federation of BiH. I am saddened by the fact that our opposition does not understand anything. They will not make BiH as they imagine it, because that state will not exist for much longer,” emphasized Dodik.
The president of the SNSD ended his speech with an appeal: “The court and the Prosecutor’s Office are a noose around the neck of the Serbian people and the RS. I call on all Serbs in the RS and FBiH to gather in a united front, in a story that is no less important than the one from 1991. The Federation is raising all its capacities, but the courts are only prosecuting people in the RS.”
Dodik’s speech clearly confirms the continuation of his nationalist course, with open threats to the Dayton Agreement and emphasizing the right of RS to independence and self-determination, this time additionally “encouraged” by Israel’s support.
