Dodik on Jahorina: Banks are taking our money out, the British want to burden us with migrants

(Patria) - President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik today addressed the Economic Forum being held on Jahorina, speaking on numerous topics.

He stated that EU membership remains a goal, but that Brussels "is not showing flexibility."

"The Growth Plan is an interesting story, but it was halted by four cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They did not mind blaming us again. Europe is not what it used to be, but it is still important for us," Dodik said.

He commented on the visit of British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, saying it had only one goal, which was to "burden Bosnia and Herzegovina with part of the migrant consequences."

"They are asking Bosnia and Herzegovina to take in those migrants who went to the West and either did not get papers or got them but committed some offense, and they decided to expel them somewhere further away. That is exactly what they are asking of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They asked us not only to station them here, but to make public markets available to them, education for their children, and later participation in politics. We did not create this story and we remain outside this process, even if it means stopping the EU path. As many as 7,000 migrants around Banja Luka would change our way of life and the stability of the city. Crime would increase, as in Europe. We do not want to be consumers of your wrong policies," he emphasized.

He said that the indebtedness of Republika Srpska last year amounted to "only 34 percent," and that it is even lower today. He stated that many tried to isolate Republika Srpska, but they did not allow it.

"Republika Srpska inherited a large part of the debt in 1992 and regularly serviced it. We have come to a position to say that it has been eliminated and paid off. Republika Srpska paid war damages amounting to around 400 million KM. We are not a single minute late on any payments, so we have an excellent economic perspective," he said.

Then he lashed out at banks in Republika Srpska.

"Today, banks generate 50 percent of their income, and especially profits, through payment transactions. Every single transaction has a fee. If this society gives you that, then give back, reduce interest rates, show it, place it, create opportunities for our people to take loans and engage in business. Do not take our money out of here, it is our money, our deposits," Dodik said.