Dodik in Belgrade: Republika Srpska has no benefit from BiH, we live imposed ideals

BELGRADE, (Patria) - All talks in Brussels went in that direction, that the influence of the situation with Kosovo should not be transferred to BiH. I said that it is impossible and the public perceives it in a very clear way. Simply, Republika Srpska believes that there is no visible benefit in BiH. We are here to live some ideals that were imposed on us from the outside,” said the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Milorad Dodik, to journalists in Belgrade after a meeting in Belgrade with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić. 

“The best framework for the development of multi-ethnic relations was Yugoslavia. That Yugoslavia is gone and was destroyed. Today, with divisions that are more visible, we are trying to build a country in which there are no cohesive elements. I tried to explain this in the EU as well, that BiH has the goal of joining the EU, but that BiH cannot be viewed solely through the realization and support of individual rights, while collective rights remain in history,” said Dodik, as reported by N1.

RTRS reports that after the meeting with the President of Serbia, Dodik stated that the cooperation between Serbia and Republika Srpska has never been better, after which he expressed satisfaction that it was agreed today that work on the Kuzmin - Bijeljina highway would begin at the start of the year.

“My call is to move away from daily political topics and focus on important issues. We must not be naive. We accepted the story of the integration of self-proclaimed Kosovo and Albania with apprehension. In Brussels, the story of applying such a right to Republika Srpska and Serbia has been skillfully avoided,” added Dodik.

He emphasized that there are different views on Kosovo within the Presidency of BiH, but his position, as he says, is to follow Serbia's stance and that it is very important for all key factors to gather to resolve the Kosovo issue.

After the meeting, Vučić stated that he informed the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Milorad Dodik, about everything that is happening in Serbia, especially regarding Kosovo, and primarily about Pristina's taxes.

He said they also discussed the current situation in BiH and new projects.

“I received all the necessary information about the situation in BiH and Republika Srpska. We discussed cooperation, which we are intensively continuing. Our trade exchange has reached its peak, and Serbia is the primary foreign trade partner of Republika Srpska, as well as BiH,” added the President of Serbia, as reported by RTRS.

Vučić also mentioned projects to be realized in the coming period – the construction of the highway from Bijeljina to Kuzmin, which would connect to the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway. He expressed hope that he and Dodik would open the construction work by mid-June.

“By June 1st, the documentation will be completed. By the end or middle of June, the project should be launched in terms of construction,” said Vučić.

“People in BiH must understand that Serbia is an unavoidable factor in the region. Serbia would choose and support all projects offered by the Federation, but there are no such projects,” said Dodik, as reported by RTS.