Dodik with French senators: If Schmidt intervenes regarding property, RS will declare independence

(Patria) - President of RS Milorad Dodik informed French senators today in Paris that High Representative Christian Schmidt, "who lacks legitimacy and legality, is trying to model the constitutional order in BiH and that RS, if Schmidt intervenes regarding property, will have no other choice but to defend its status by declaring independence".

- We will do that. What is important is that we talked today with people who want to hear it, which is not common. I am grateful to this group of senators, who are from different political parties, because they wanted to hear about the situation and they had a certain opinion about it.

They will come to BiH soon and will talk to other factors there. We presented our views and said that BiH should return to the Constitution, that the interventionism should stop, and that foreigners should withdraw - Dodik told RTRS after the meeting with the senators.

He said he informed the senators about the situation in RS and BiH, as well as in the Balkans, adding that he is convinced that the visit to the Senate will achieve the desired effect.

- My main point was - be objective, we did not come here to ask for support on any basis - said Dodik.

He also pointed out that he presented the known positions of RS - "that the illegitimate Schmidt, at the time of obtaining candidate status for BiH, jeopardized the entire process and brought it to a complete standstill, and that he intends to further complicate the situation through the property law".

- We said that the intervention in the Election Law of BiH is unacceptable and that it will block the further process in BiH as long as he does not withdraw it or the Parliamentary Assembly rejects it - stated Dodik.

He also sent a message that RS, if this does not happen, will pass its own laws and "continue further in accordance with the Constitution and the Election Law of BiH, which stipulates that the Central Election Commission only conducts elections for members of the Presidency of BiH and the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament".

Dodik also assessed that France plays a positive role regarding the situation in BiH.

- We know that France was against the international negotiations regarding Schmidt's intention to make final decisions, and we appreciate that. That 'against' was not enough, because there are other major countries that were for it and that have their own positions - concluded Dodik.