Dodik equates Komšić and Izetbegović with war criminal Krajišnik

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik said today that he had requested a minute of silence to honor the deceased Momčilo Krajišnik, which was rejected. Dodik did not stop there, but compared Krajišnik to the first president of the BiH Presidency, Alija Izetbegović, who was neither suspected, accused, nor convicted of war crimes.

"When Alija Izetbegović died, the same was done and ordered in the diplomatic-consular representations (DKP) to open books of condolences around the world. BiH is not ready to pay tribute to the first post-war member of the Presidency. I will order the heads of 16 DKPs from the Serb people to open a Book of Condolences for Momčilo Krajišnik," said Dodik.

When asked by journalists what message he was sending to the victims with such a request, Dodik said that he respected all victims.

"The fact is that Momo Krajišnik was convicted, that he served his sentence and was released as a free citizen, regardless of my opinion on that. I know that Momo Krajišnik did not fire a single bullet. You have a member of the BiH Presidency, Komšić, who participated in the fighting and has the Order of the Golden Lily. Momo Krajišnik was the first member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and if Komšić and Džaferović respect that BiH, then they had to accept it.

I respect all victims; I wish no one had suffered. Unfortunately, we have diametrically opposed views on these issues. When someone in the West goes to prison, serves their sentence, and is released, they have all the rights of a free man," said Dodik.