Dodik admitted that the RS Constitution does not provide for an army, now the BiH Constitution suits him

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Milorad Dodik, SNSD president, admitted that the RS Constitution does not contain provisions regarding defense, and that the formation of the RS Army is based exclusively on the BiH Constitution. 

When asked about amending the RS Constitution, which does not mention defense, Dodik said that those articles have been deleted.  

“But it has not been deleted from the BiH Constitution, which clearly states that the Armed Forces of one entity cannot cross into the territory of another, and I demand that this be reaffirmed. We have initiated the issue of constitutional reform, and this assembly will establish the principles; we are working systematically and dedicatedly. We have enough energy, will, ability, and knowledge. The Council of Peoples was imposed by the decision of the High Representative, while in the FBiH it is a Dayton obligation. We will probably move to abolish the Council of Peoples and return the position of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska so that it can make decisions faster, without any delays,” said Dodik. 

To another question, whether the RS will have the financial capacity to finance all these employees from its budget when it withdraws competencies, Dodik said:

"No one will be left by the wayside or on the street. If such a solution comes about, the capacities of the BiH Armed Forces and related costs will be reduced. Doesn't it seem logical to you that the reform of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH will also resolve that issue? Serbs working there are paid from that participation. It is not charity from Sarajevo. We participate proportionally in the BiH Budget funds. These funds, through the new tax system, will be returned to the RS budget. BiH has no right to defense and the formation of defense structures, it has no right to courts, to intelligence services." 

He confirmed that he had requested a series of meetings with EU officials, and he particularly wishes to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

"Erdoğan is not ready to do anything to harm the other two peoples. Before I met him, I had a different opinion. I believe in his objectivity," said Dodik, who will meet with the Turkish president tomorrow.