Russian Ambassador Ivantsov: I do not understand the statement of Kolinda Grabar Kitarović

Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Petar Ivantsov stated, regarding the latest statements by Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, that he does not understand how a “hybrid war” could be used in the context of relations between Russia and Republika Srpska, Patria reports. 

Grabar Kitarović stated that, “given that Russia is involved in hybrid warfare, and that we see strong ties between (RS President Milorad) Dodik and Russia, we would then have Russian influence through weapons, tactics, intelligence warfare through information and disinformation…”

Russia's relations with BiH and RS fully fit into the principle of the Dayton Peace Agreement, Ivantsov emphasized, as reported by RTRS.

“Our relations are mutually beneficial and fully comply with international legal principles. We want to have only friendly relations that in no way threaten the interests of neighboring countries,” Ivantsov notes.

He also disagreed with the Croatian president's statement that the instability of BiH indicates that the country is not yet fully politically emancipated, and that the recent referendum in Republika Srpska is the first step towards a series of referendums, up to the possible independence of that entity.

“No one spoke about the independence of Republika Srpska, the referendum question was clear and concerned only the republic's holiday,” Ivantsov said and emphasized that the held referendum had no impact on the destabilization of BiH.