Izetbegović: Dodik and Čović are paving the way for a referendum on RS secession, SDA will not allow it

At today's traditional New Year's press conference of the SDA held in Sarajevo, the party's president Bakir Izetbegović summarized an overview of the most important events in 2016 in BiH, Patria reports.

Izetbegović spoke about positive and negative things, as well as the future of the state.

Speaking about the negative trend, he said that this period was marked by moves of the RS leadership, and that the president of the smaller BiH entity, Milorad Dodik, crossed the red line.

For Izetbegović, the most positive step forward in 2016 was the submission of the EU membership application in February, which „in the following six months became credible and serious.“

Receiving the European Commission questionnaire on December 9, Izetbegović says, finally ended the eight-year integration stalemate. He also mentioned the adoption of the Defense Review as a strategic document that will bring BiH closer to NATO.

- Full integration into the EU and NATO is the best way to achieve security and prosperity for BiH, Izetbegović said.

The SDA president emphasized that Dodik is trying to divert attention from the difficult situation in RS with nationalism.

- Dodik and Čović announced a joint initiative on the BiH Constitutional Court. Its goal is to remove obstacles for the SNSD's goal in 2018, which is to call a referendum on the secession of RS from BiH. The SDA will not allow that, Izetbegović stated.