Izetbegović: I would talk to Dodik alone, I expect a reaction from the OHR

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Bakir Izetbegović, member of the Collegium of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament, held a meeting today with Collegium members Nikola Špirić and Dragan Čović. Although it is not a formal Collegium, Izetbegović said that there will be no sessions of the Collegium or the House of Peoples because the Serbs will not attend it.

Regarding the decision that has entered into force in RS, i.e., on the non-application of Inzko's law, i.e., the prohibition of genocide denial, Izetbegović said that it will not be possible to implement it in practice.

"There will be various appeals, decisions of the Constitutional Court and the OHR. If there had been wisdom, we would not have entered this situation. For 15 years, the SNSD has been going in the wrong direction. I think that has contributed to the worsening situation in BiH, to decisions for people to leave the country. I hope that Serbian representatives will mature, we see the opposition will not follow the decisions. In 10, 20 years, there will be no one to earn pensions for the elderly in BiH," says Izetbegović.

He said that this is the most direct blow to the Dayton Peace Agreement.

"You cannot strike Dayton without striking peace. I expect the OHR to revoke the decision, to engage in a fight with separatist and secessionist policies in RS. It must be opposed, the judicial system, security services if territorial integrity is attacked, the BiH Armed Forces."

Izetbegović said that HDZ BiH is acting with the aim of achieving solutions it is interested in regarding the Election Law under pressure.

"We did not talk about that today. Mr. Špirić insists on sitting down and talking. I am not for the format of me, Čović, and Dodik. Only either tête-à-tête or a meeting of wider delegations. The Serbian side understands that we are deliberately working to the detriment of Serbs. We have no intention of hindering investments in RS, only the state must be respected (hydroelectric power plants on the Drina). When it comes to state property, both military and state property should be put into function," said Izetbegović.

He added that Čović said today that they are not ready to delete the ethnic prefix and that it is a fundamental right of Croats.

"I don't see a way to implement the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights if we don't delete these prefixes. We are ready to do that, but we have the withdrawal of HDZ BiH," said Izetbegović.

He will be in Banja Luka on Friday, and when asked if he would respond to an invitation to a meeting with Dodik, he said he would not have time on Friday.

"I am ready to meet Mr. Dodik one-on-one. Perhaps things can still be stopped. I am ready to talk about the blockade as well, to get out of it. I won't have time for that when I'm in Banja Luka, but it can happen next week or when Mr. Dodik finds time," he said.

Izetbegović said that Valentin Inzko was forced to pass the Law on Prohibition of Genocide Denial.

"This assembly had 15 to 20 years to pass such a law, and Inzko was forced to pass such a law at the end of his mandate. We can still pass this law and request that this one be withdrawn. We can adopt the same law or an amended one. You cannot negotiate the Constitution, Dayton, the position of the OHR. When someone does not respect the OHR, the convention, I don't see room for negotiation. Our right to the Bosnian language. If someone thinks they have the right to build a church in the yard of a woman who lost three sons, where is the room for discussion?" says the SDA president.