Konaković after Lavrov and Dodik's statements: We will respond at the UN Security Council with friends and partners

(Patria) - Following messages from the press conference of Milorad Dodik and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, which are partly a threat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, its constitutional order, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Elmedin Konaković, also reacted. Lavrov particularly emphasized the importance of the UN Security Council session on October 31, which Russia will chair and at which the extension of the Althea mission (EUFOR) in BiH will be discussed.

"At the UN Security Council, we will respond with friends and partners who are members of the Security Council, and in other areas, as diplomacy requires of us," said Konaković.

He stated that he is not surprised by Russia's actions or Lavrov's messages, and that they are well prepared for them.

"We immediately discussed this with our international partners. Some of them are members of the United Nations Security Council, and we will certainly respond adequately and in a timely manner to what Russia has been trying for several times, using the BiH entity of Republika Srpska and thanks to the subservient attitude of Milorad Dodik. He uses Republika Srpska as a space where, by creating problems, he strengthens his negotiating position in other parts of the world," Konaković told Fena.

The main reason for such messages from Russia is the anti-constitutional, illegal actions and attack on the constitutional order by the former president of Republika Srpska and his associates, who, by such actions, endanger, destroy the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and displace Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, and perhaps most of all, Serbs from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main message to Lavrov and Russia is that we need to help Serbs in BiH to keep their children in the country, to seize opportunities that are exclusively linked to the European Union, our full membership, and the large and powerful market, the European Union market, which guarantees us economic stability. We are not surprised.

The head of BiH diplomacy believes that Dodik and individuals who, like him, disrupt the country's constitutional order, do not care about Serbs in BiH, because, as he points out, if they did, they would not be doing such things every day.

"We have heard clear messages from NATO leaders several times that NATO will not allow a security vacuum in BiH and that there is an option for NATO forces to come if the EUFOR mission stops. Therefore, Russia and Dodik know this, and for them, it is certainly a worse option. And that is why they have not resorted to using their veto power to end the EUFOR mission in BiH so far. As much as Dodik works with his allies on the international stage, including perhaps Orbán, who is his second part-time advisor, we work twice as hard with all our friends and allies to preserve stability in the region and in BiH. What is encouraging is that there are healthy forces in Republika Srpska who know that Milorad Dodik's insane policy, supported by Russia, could lead us into a new conflict, and these rational, brave forces are sending positive messages that European opportunities must be seized," said Konaković.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH emphasized that the discussions he is having with European leaders are sometimes not for the public, but it is quite clear that even among the permanent members of the Security Council, there are those who, as he states, would certainly prevent any destruction when it comes to Russia.