Izetbegović: Serbian politicians, from Milošević to Dodik, pull the rope until it breaks, and when it breaks, they find themselves on their backs

(Patria) - After the leader of RS Milorad Dodik gave an ultimatum to the Trojka that if they do not declare the ambassadors of Great Britain, Germany, and the USA, as well as the High Representative, enemies of BiH, he will offer SDA and enact his own laws, SDA leader Bakir Izetbegović says he will not accept anything that means the destruction of BiH.

Izetbegović adds that he would accept a positive reconstruction that would mean progress for our country on the path to the European Union.

Dodik offers destruction

- SDA will not accept anything that means destruction, confrontation with the international community, an attack on the constitutional and legal order, delays, or blockades. We would, of course, accept some constructive reconstruction that would mean acceleration and progress for BiH on the Euro-Atlantic path, but I wouldn't say Dodik is offering that, I think he is offering destruction - Izetbegović said as a guest on the show BHT1 uživo.

He assessed the decision of the High Representative Christian Schmidt to impose technical amendments to the Election Law of BiH as positive, emphasizing that it accelerates the European path of BiH.

- Unfortunately, the High Representative had to do it, but it's better that way than not at all. We have been hesitating about this for fifteen years, to achieve fair elections. I think this is an important step forward that will reduce the space for manipulation and theft, and those who are against it have finally come out into the spotlight - HDZ, SNSD, and cleverly, the Trojka.

They support Dodik, then they support this, they watch what the voters and how the people will react to it, they are constantly doing one thing, then the other. They shouldn't have rejected SDA's law, it was almost the same as this one by Schmidt - said the SDA leader, adding that this decision "reduces the chances of theft in elections".

He also touched upon BiH receiving the green light to open negotiations with the EU, emphasizing that the geopolitical situation decided to accelerate that decision, and that the previous government did much more than the current one.

- Incomplete laws are being adopted that need to be corrected, the bar is being lowered by the European Commission... Less has been done than during Denis Zvizdić's government, but well, a step has been taken, let's move on - said Izetbegović.

He emphasizes that the representatives of the BiH authorities are not aware of how much work awaits us in the coming period.

- If we struggled so much with a few laws, and the real work is ahead of us, then I am truly not optimistic, unless the main players come to their senses. But if there is no willingness, for example, from Milorad Dodik, to transfer competencies, to accept, say, the Ministry of Agriculture to rapidly adopt European standards, we will be at a standstill from the very beginning - believes the SDA leader.

He also commented on the statement of Croatian President Zoran Milanović that "BiH's negotiations with the EU will last 500 years".

It's time to come to their senses

- He likes to make those bombastic statements, and then corrects himself later. They are making a circus out of politics, it seems voters like it lately, so they behave accordingly - stated Izetbegović.

He added that he believes Milanović is partly right, and that the process of European integration must be accelerated.

Izetbegović also spoke about the US sanctions against individuals and legal entities in BiH, and the announcements of new ones.

- We take two steps forward, one back. There is collateral damage in what they are doing with sanctions, there are those who do not deserve them, but there are also those who very much deserve them. They cannot win a confrontation with the international community. It's like a Yugo 45 thinking it can collide with a tank.

They are slowly entering that confrontation and in general, I dare say - Serbian politicians, from Milošević to Dodik, pull the rope until it breaks, and when it breaks, they find themselves on their backs. It's time to come to their senses.

Whenever I am with Milorad Dodik, with whom one can have a good personal relationship, I tell him these things, to stop, to give up, let's do something to stop the departure of young people, this will turn into a country of old people who will have no one to feed them - emphasizes Izetbegović.

He believes that sanctions will make politicians in RS more serious.

- They will slowly step into quicksand that will gradually slow them down, and then they will realize that this is not the way. They cannot overpower the international community, nor international institutions, nor BiH institutions. It is time for them to change their attitude - said the SDA leader.

He also touched upon the debts of the entity governments, stating that the Federation of BiH is rapidly following in the footsteps of RS in terms of over-indebtedness.

- I think they will borrow a billion KM within a year. We won't feel it immediately, but young people who get jobs will bear the burden increasingly heavily, and then they will leave. They are leading us into a serious situation, very irresponsibly and rudely - adds Izetbegović.

He also mentioned the possibility of SDP and SDA forming a coalition.

- I have been offering that for years, they needed SDA. I think we will have to form a pro-Bosnian bloc. The number of those who support Čović's and Dodik's policies is growing - warns Izetbegović.

When asked if the opposition bloc consisting of SDA, DF, and Stranka za BiH will field joint candidates in the upcoming elections, Izetbegović said he is in favor of it.

- As far as I'm concerned, we should do that or have some kind of agreement to achieve an alternative to the Trojka's policies at the local level, where everything begins. Our hand is extended, but it also depends on other actors - concluded the SDA leader.