Radmanović on separatism: Everyone in the Balkans has the right to self-determination

Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Nebojša Radmanović, stated at today's press conference that confusion arose due to yesterday's vote, or rather the lack of consensus within the BiH Presidency on the UN Resolution on Ukraine and joining the statements of Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy and Security, on sanctions by the European Union and the USA against Russia.

As is known, the Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Bakir Izetbegović, and the member of the BiH Presidency, Željko Komšić, voted in favor in both cases, while Radmanović did not, writes the Patria News Agency.

When asked by NAP journalists whether he supports a referendum on the secession of Republika Srpska from BiH, as can be heard in the stances of Milorad Dodik, the president of SNSD and Republika Srpska, Radmanović said that the issue of a referendum is an issue of self-determination.

- Peoples have the right to self-determination. This can hardly bypass the Balkans. States in the Balkans were formed on the basis of self-determination - said Radmanović, avoiding a direct answer to the question.

He says that the members of the BiH Presidency did not agree on three points: the legality of power, the principle of self-determination, and territorial integrity.

- Our interest is to stay out of it. We have already had similar cases regarding Libya and Syria, and the Palestinian-Israeli relations, where we also could not agree. In this case of Ukraine, I offered that we abstain, but it was not accepted - said Radmanović.

Although it was discussed that BiH, according to the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) signed by BiH, should join the EU sanctions against Russia, Radmanović stated that the SAA has not entered into force and that BiH has an obligation to gradually adapt to the EU's positions.

He added that BiH has interests when it comes to the Russian Federation regarding foreign trade relations, two factories with Russian capital, and the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline.

- I think the biggest interest is that the three of us do not quarrel, and BiH's interest is stable relations within BiH. The big ones ask the small ones to vote, and then we divide ourselves - he says.

Commenting on the speech given yesterday by SDS leader Mladen Bosić at the Faculty of Political Science in Sarajevo, where he said that most citizens of Republika Srpska are not for secession, Radmanović said that everyone has the right to choose what and where to speak.

- That stance is not acceptable to the citizens of Republika Srpska, nor to most members of his party - stated Radmanović.

Regarding the arrival of European officials in BiH, four foreign ministers (from Austria, Hungary, Great Britain, and Croatia), Radmanović stated that the EU should have taken more significant steps towards the Western Balkans.

- I do not think it is about constitutional changes, and I do not think BiH needs such changes before the elections. There has been a stagnation on BiH's path to the EU, but also due to the recent destructive events. We will see what the ministers' messages are, and I hope they will help BiH on its path to the EU - concluded Radmanović.