Mesić: Dodik is the new Slobodan Milošević

The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, is the new Slobodan Milošević, and the messages from politicians between Zagreb and Belgrade are very dangerous, although they are the product of the pre-election campaign, stated former Croatian President Stjepan Mesić, Patria reports.

Mesić told Alo that he had already said everything he had to say about Dodik a long time ago, and that remains true today”.

Mesić previously stated that Dodik is the new Slobodan Milošević in the Balkans and that the international community must no longer accept that the leader of RS constantly questions the existence of Bosnia and Herzegovina with threats of a secession referendum.

When asked whether the current tensions between Zagreb and Belgrade are the product of the pre-election campaign or something else, Mesić stated that they are the product of the campaign, but also that the politicians' statements are very dangerous.

“They are primarily the product of the pre-election campaign, and partly due to the unwillingness of the leading politicians to understand the danger of a permanent deterioration of mutual relations”, said Mesić.

He also added that he does not believe that Croatia will block Serbia on its path to EU membership, because, as he assessed, that would not be in Croatia's interest either.