Dodik complained to Vučić: Bosniak political elite deliberately obstructs government formation

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - We are continuously solving serious problems for ordinary people in the RS and I am grateful to Mr. Vučić for showing the will and desire to help the Republic of Srpska, said today Milorad Dodik, Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade.

"In the last few years, this is the most concrete and best cooperation between the Republic of Srpska and Serbia. This is reflected not only in projects, but also in strong support for people throughout the Republic of Srpska. With these projects, we will complete an idea that in every municipality in the Republic of Srpska there will be one of the projects initiated from these funds," said Dodik, speaking about infrastructure projects that Serbia should finance in this part of BiH.

Dodik also added that they discussed relations between BiH and Serbia.

"The border issue remains unresolved because the Bosniak side has its own approaches. As far as I am personally concerned, the issue proposed in the earlier version is, of course, acceptable to me. The RS and Serbia are showing cooperation aimed at stabilizing the entire area. I informed the president about the ongoing talks on forming government bodies at the BiH level. I want to say that government bodies at the BiH level are being formed, they do not have direct electoral legitimacy. There is readiness on the Serbian side, which long ago conceived its policy at the Sarajevo level, immediately after the elections, as well as on the Croatian side. One unfinished thing remains within the Bosniak political elite, and there is obviously a deliberate obstruction to prevent what constitutionally belongs to the Serbs after the elections from being taken by them," said Dodik.

He added that "it is no longer just a matter of technical or other delays."

Dodik also spoke about last night's meeting with the leaders of SDA and HDZ.

"Last night we had a meeting in Sarajevo which resulted, at the request of Mr. Bakir Izetbegović, in drafting several principles. In the end, when we were supposed to sign it and move forward, he asked for another seven days. This is an organized obstruction that will probably continue. We do not intend to tolerate such relations, but it is important that others see how this is progressing," Dodik stated.

Journalists in Serbia asked him how developments in Belgrade in recent days are viewed in the RS and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Dodik again denied BiH and replied: "Leave Bosnia and Herzegovina alone, I will talk about the Republic of Srpska. The RS always looks with great love towards Serbia and wishes all the best for Serbia. What we have seen in previous days is certainly not a good picture, it is aimed at destabilizing Serbia," Dodik said.

Vučić said that numerous projects in the entity of the Republic of Srpska have been agreed upon, and Serbia will help in their implementation.

Vučić then listed which projects are involved, emphasizing that Serbia will help with 32 million euros.

''I hope that I will soon be able to go to Banja Luka and meet with small entrepreneurs. As for agriculture, we are ready to provide additional incentives through subsidies, that depends on the Government of the Republic of Srpska,'' Vučić noted. He also said they discussed the situation in the region.

''We discussed all political issues in the region, agreeing that stability is of key importance. These are concrete things,'' Vučić concluded.