Dodik: I received from Izetbegović what I could never have dreamed of

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, appearing on N1's Pressing show, stated that he does not fear arrest and is satisfied that the referendum on the Day of RS passed without problems, reports the Patria News Agency. 

Many predicted you would be dismissed, even arrested. Here you are, alive and free. In Belgrade. What are you doing there?

-Last night I was in Višegrad and on Pale, and this morning I came to Belgrade for some obligations and stayed here to record Pressing. I spoke with Vučić (Serbian Prime Minister) today, who expressed his satisfaction that the referendum passed peacefully and that tensions can now be expected to subside.

Are you satisfied with the referendum results?

-I am satisfied with the fact that the referendum passed without problems. I am also satisfied with the results, although I am a bit tired and sleep-deprived. We have done a very important job and we immediately stated that the implementation of the referendum is in function of implementing the decision of the Constitutional Court of BiH, and we decided that the celebration of the Day of RS should be adapted to this decision. The first step is the referendum, and the next steps are to return to the National Assembly of RS.

55 percent of the residents of Republika Srpska turned out to vote, and 99.8 percent of them voted to continue celebrating January 9th as the Day of RS. Did you expect a higher turnout?

If Bosniaks and Croats are subtracted from the total number, it means that 70 percent of Serbs turned out for the referendum. We are satisfied with this 55 percent. Why wouldn't we be, when Montenegro also had a 55 percent threshold for independence? And no one disputed it.

Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak stated that Dodik turned the referendum into an election rally?

All politicians in RS stood by the decision to hold the referendum. All political parties were initiators and signatories of the decision. I don't know if Crnadak voted, but he has to return among you (Sarajevo, editor's note) and then explain his decisions. British Ambassador Edward Ferguson said he saw nothing wrong with holding a referendum, and then changed his story after pressure from Bosniaks. Ivanić (Serb member of the Presidency of BiH) was the first to make such a statement, and then everyone started saying that this is Dodik's referendum, but their parties were also signatories to the decision about it. This should be understood in the sense that they want to hide when they come to Bakir Izetbegović (Bosniak member of the Presidency of BiH and leader of SDA). Ivanić will have to justify the votes of Bosniaks who voted for him.

With the referendum underway, the talk about the villa in Dedinje, Pavlović Bank, etc., has stopped?

I cannot find any criminal responsibility in all these events. Speculations are related to how someone obedient would be brought in to initiate some order to see how Dodik would behave. All of this is caricatural. An expert witness, a Bosniak from Tuzla, found no criminal responsibility. Those from Sarajevo changed him and found someone who suited them. I am not against the existence of the Court and Prosecutor's Office of BiH, but the way it was created is not in accordance with the Constitution of BiH. The court should deal with issues of international crime, terrorism, and war crimes, but I am against the court that has completely undermined domestic justice and deals with political speculation.

In a previous Pressing appearance, reacting to accusations about buying gold, you stated that you have a kilogram of gold at home?

I have five grandchildren. My son recently had a daughter, and we received many gifts in gold, so I have, perhaps, more than a kilogram of gold at home.

Are you afraid that your assets abroad will be frozen? Do you have assets in Russia?

I am not afraid. I own property in Serbia, but I do not own property in Russia. I see Serbia as my motherland. Bosniaks also have property in Istanbul and Turkey. It is a complete insinuation that I have property in Russia.

Some circles in Sarajevo rejoiced that you only received moral support from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the referendum?

That is a completely trivialized story. It is about meeting with a man who represents one of the most powerful countries in the world, and I was trying to gain his favor to encourage Russian companies to invest in RS. Regarding the referendum, Putin said that it is our affair and that the international community has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of a internationally recognized country. However, others in BiH agree to have foreigners interfere. Putin wished me luck in the referendum and the elections.

How do you comment on the fact that there has been no official meeting between a member of the BiH Presidency and the Russian President or Prime Minister so far, while you frequently meet with them?

Russia is a powerful country and chooses whom to talk to. From circles in Sarajevo, negative views towards Russia have often been heard, and there is an almost pathological adherence to everything the West says.

At the same time, American officials have been avoiding you for years?

Yesterday, three referendums were held in the EU. We are a small nation, and many have targeted Serbs, but the question is what is the difference between Serbs and other nations that they have the right to a referendum. How can Britain have a negative stance towards our referendum, while it itself has no problem holding a referendum on leaving the EU? Eighteen political parties in EU countries advocate for those countries to leave the EU. The only problem is that SNSD announced that they will analyze the situation in two years and have their proposal on it.

Is RS a state?

Of course it is a state, and BiH is a state community.

Is your ultimate goal the secession of RS?

Politics is part of cause-and-effect relationships. All these years have shown that BiH lacks the internal capacity to function. The Bosniak public expects the High Representative to make decisions against one nation. Not everyone is ready to live in such a situation. Dodik has always acted legally, and that has saved my life so far.

How do you comment on Sefer Halilović's statement that in case of war, RS would disappear in 10-15 days?

I have heard that story before, so it did not surprise me. Representatives of Bosniaks have said similar things before.

You were very pleased after your last meeting with Izetbegović?

I received from Izetbegović what I could never have dreamed of. A formulation was included in the coordination mechanism that did not exist in the BiH political system until now, which is that for a majority decision and quorum, only an authorized representative of the Government of RS can participate, not someone who declared themselves to represent Serbs. This authorized representative of RS will only be able to proceed with a signed order from the Government of RS. I believe this is good for BiH and will improve relations. I was surprised how quickly Izetbegović agreed to our request. We got everything, because if there is no signed order from the Government of RS, there will be no session in Sarajevo.