High Representative Christian Schmidt said in an interview two days ago that SNSD president Milorad Dodik behaves like Don Quixote.
“What kind of fight is Dodik fighting? For his Republika Srpska (RS), and that’s fine, that’s why there are laws and rules. Sometimes I think he’s behaving like Don Quixote, who fought windmills with his spear every day. What is it really about? It’s about people needing and wanting to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and join the European Union (EU). This is not an empty phrase,” Schmidt stated in the beginning.
He added that every day we should ask ourselves how we will achieve this.
“I have the impression that people are no longer interested in all these endless conversations. They want to know if they are better off economically and to stop mafia corruption. This is something that Dodik can contribute to,” Schmidt added.
When asked why “big” Europe tolerates “little” Dodik, Schmidt said that they have patience, “but patience ends when someone thinks they can manipulate Europeans.”
In this regard, he does not agree that money can calm the situation.
“It should be said this way, Mr. Dodik, you now have to position yourself very clearly. Do you want to facilitate BiH’s path to the EU and EU integration? Whether you can decide by yourself or you have to call Lavrov to give you the green light, you decide for yourself,” Schmidt emphasized.
He pointed out that in Europe they don’t like people who are being manipulated.
Speaking about the Electoral Law, he said that the so-called integrity package must be implemented so that voters can be sure that the elections are not rigged.
“People should be told, the citizens should be the ones who decide, and we (pointing to himself) must ensure that the votes of the citizens are counted and that there are no tricks or any nonsense. In the coming period, we will focus our attention on that,” Schmidt stated.
Moreover, Schmidt said that the current coalition has a chance to do that.
“But it cannot do it alone because it also needs the SDA if amendments to the Constitution are to be made, but it is something that must be done. The Coalition wrote it in its agreement and it must be done together with Mr. Dodik. He must be told: ‘You have to accept that, that’s the final basis,’ and he will sign,” Schmidt explained.
Speaking about the decisions he made in the previous period, he said: “I know that many people get angry and protest when I make a decision, but they actually say to themselves ‘Thank God the High Representative made a decision’. But, because of that, I don’t want to make the job easier for those gentlemen”.
At the end of the interview, Schmidt revealed how long he plans to stay in BiH. He said that he would not go until the 5+2 reforms are implemented and, using a metaphor from Germany, explained that Dodik, with his disapproval and non-recognition of the High Representative, is only extending his mandate in BiH, Klix.ba reports.
E.Dz.
