Izetbegović: Neither I nor SDA are ready for concessions to HDZ, let the Trojka do it, there are no negotiations with Dodik, he will be arrested

(Patria) - SDA President Bakir Izetbegović stated that delaying the arrest of Milorad Dodik is harmful, and that without the international community, it will be difficult to achieve and without the reaction of EUFOR.

"He flagrantly violates the Dayton Peace Agreement, does anti-Dayton things that shake the foundations of the state. They are obliged to act and remove Dodik from political life. He should be arrested. Can our SIPA, within which there are their people, and against the police guarding him, without people getting killed and us creating a problem. I cannot be unfair and say that people should be pushed into such situations. I think it will come from the intervention of the international community, but not so soon," Izetbegović said in the show Istraga sedmice on Hayat TV.

He said that one of Dodik's statements went unnoticed, which was that "Muslims are re-occupying Podrinje."

"He calls Muslims returning to their homes occupiers. Occupiers deserve to be driven away by force. He calls the citizens of RS, those living in apartheid, occupiers. It's time for him to leave political life. He has crossed the line. We will see how he resists BiH. After all, sanctions killed Milošević, I think they will narrow his space. I think things will be settled with him this year," he said.

When asked by Avdo Avdić if it is possible to negotiate with SNSD, the SDA president answered affirmatively.

"With SNSD without Milorad Dodik, yes, but with Milorad Dodik, there are no negotiations. If I were the international community, I would immediately award Brčko to the Federation of BiH. The arbitration is not finished," he said.

He called on Bosniaks to consolidate and unite.

He confirmed that he had a meeting with the president of HDZ, Dragan Čović, in Podgorica.

"It didn't last long, Čović was stiff, so I was stiff too. We blamed each other for some things. He had a solution in Neum, but not one that suited HNS. Why didn't he accept it? Because there is always an alternative that could win, and he doesn't want that. He wants to be the one who gives consent whether Croats are or not," he said.

When asked how far he is willing to go and what concessions to make regarding the Election Law, he said none.

"We have done what we were willing to do. At this moment, let the Trojka proceed, and if they are willing to make a mistake, we will try to stop them. What HDZ is proposing is contrary to the Constitution, the judgments of the ECtHR, the Constitutional Court of BiH. This proposal is even contrary to the agreement that Čović and I signed. The judgment of the BiH Court from 2000. My father initiated constitutionality. Members of the BiH Presidency do not represent ethnicity but citizens. At this moment, SDA will not make any effort to resolve this. I am not ready to revive the Neum negotiations. I think nothing should be done now, this is an abnormal situation. After the elections, when there is a new constellation," he stated.

Izetbegović said that he had a long conversation with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, who supports Čović's side, about ten days ago.

"In many ways, Čović exaggerates. He also exaggerates with this Southern Interconnection. Plenković says let them elect a member of the Presidency, he follows Čović," says Izetbegović.

Regarding the conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Izetbegović said that he would certainly not negotiate with Dodik and that he had such an offer two years ago.

"I had such a proposal from the Turkish side a long time ago. I did not agree. I said we have the PIC, the OHR, if we do that, we will acquit them. I am for those who guarantee the mechanisms. Turkey is also within the PIC, and Turkey is trying to help. It has a relatively good relationship with both Serbia and Croatia. The Serbian leadership sympathizes with Erdogan. Let people try to improve things. Dodik is flattering Trump, Netanyahu, you saw how he behaves when he goes to Ankara," he said.

When asked if he will be a candidate for the BiH Presidency next year, Izetbegović said that someone from SDA will be.

"I'll see, it depends on health, mood, mood within SDA, we have candidacies, opinions in the bodies. We'll see. Anyone even slightly capable in SDA has a 99 percent chance of winning," concluded Izetbegović.