Dodik proposed sanctions to Escobar for those invoking war, does not give up on forming the RS Army

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – Milorad Dodik, member of the BiH Presidency, said at a press conference after the meeting with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar that the common position is that mentioning war has no real basis.  

„Neither I nor anyone from the RS has invoked war as an option at any point. Those who did have the opportunity to clarify that with Escobar. I offered him that those who rattle their sabers should be subject to swift sanctions and that no one can in any way take war as an option for resolving issues,“ Dodik said.

He pointed out that he and Escobar view certain aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement differently.

„No political action will be outside the BiH Constitution. We are not undermining territorial integrity, although such circumstances have arisen. We will not apologize; we said we are preparing documents and I informed Escobar that we will withdraw consent in the areas of the military, judiciary, indirect taxes, and that within six months we will enact new legislation,“ Dodik said.

Regarding the BiH Armed Forces, Dodik said that the quota for Serbs is not filled at 30 percent, and for Croats at 50 percent.  

„We believe that the numbers should be reduced there so that we do not end up with a Muslim army,“ he said.

He added that he also spoke to Escobar about the BiH Constitutional Court, which he called inquisitorial and said it can no longer be tolerated.

„The RS will continue to take care of itself, and that is the only way we can preserve BiH. We are the ones who, by saving the BiH Constitution, are saving the story of BiH. We discussed economic issues, the issue of the Open Balkans, and I told him that the problem is that Bosniaks-Muslims do not believe in it, thinking it is some Serbian story.“

Escobar said that there should be dialogue, with which Dodik agreed, and said he was satisfied with the meeting. When asked by journalists whether sanctions were discussed, Dodik said „not a word.“

„We cannot accept the Constitutional Court or the judiciary; we will not hesitate. His response was that we should talk, and I am for that. No one here in the RS is against it. I can be satisfied with this meeting. We ruled out any possibility of a war option. We will reject those Constitutional Court decisions on land and forests and confirm our laws, and no one can call that into question.

Arable land and forests are owned by the Federation of BiH, not the RS. After 30 years, they are taking that right away from us,“ he added.

Dodik once again emphasized that proposals for laws will be submitted to the National Assembly of the RS to protect the rights of the Serbian people, but not at the expense of any other people.

„I have no intention, not even the slightest, to harm anyone. If they want the constitutional BiH as envisioned by Dayton, we are for that BiH. None of the reforms, 140 laws, have brought any improvement. Escobar did say that decisions cannot be made unilaterally. I had a man-to-man conversation with Mr. Escobar,“ he added.

When asked by journalists whether after the meeting with Escobar he gave up on forming the RS Army and taking over barracks, and whether he discussed this with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, Dodik said:

„Today we will definitively confirm with coalition partners that the need stands to withdraw consent from the military, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the Indirect Taxation Authority, and that through conclusions in the National Assembly of the RS, it will be adopted to propose and request from the government, no later than six months, the legal framework that will be adopted in the National Assembly of the RS. That was our position seven days ago and before Escobar, and it will be our position today as well,“ Dodik said.  

Regarding the barracks of the BiH Armed Forces, Dodik said that the barracks belong to the RS, and that 90 percent of their members are Serbs.  

„We will not attack Serbs, nor Bosniaks, nor Croats. The part of history that Slovenia had is known; I had no need to discuss it,“ he said.