Ivanić: RS can only strengthen if BiH strengthens, and vice versa

(Patria) - When asked if he had spent four years working to strengthen Republika Srpska or to strengthen the state of BiH, the BiH Presidency member said that the "either...or" question is the wrong approach.

"I think BiH will have a big problem as long as it doesn't realize that BiH is also Republika Srpska and that a strong RS does not have to mean a weak BiH. On the contrary, I think that both can strengthen only if they strengthen together, not if they are opposed. I really think that is a completely wrong thesis. So, I have of course worked to try to strengthen the position of RS as much as I can, but not at the expense of BiH's efficiency. I have not produced internal conflicts, I have not created tensions, I have tried to make compromises wherever my colleagues were willing to do so," Ivanić said in an interview for Deutsche Welle.

Speaking about criticism from Bosniaks, even though he received their support in the previous elections, Ivanić said he doesn't know what they expected from him.

"If they expected me to be a politician who would deny RS, who would work against it, I think they thought completely wrong. My obligation is to protect RS and what I can say is that I will do that. However, I have not destroyed BiH's institutions. I have never acted outside of BiH's institutions. Everything I have done, I have done through institutions, defending the position of RS, without endangering institutions and without endangering BiH's constitutional order. If that is too little, then I think it is better for those people to opt for Dodik," Ivanić said.