Salkić: Dodik should stop dreaming and return to reality

Ramiz Salkić, Vice-President of the BiH entity RS, stated that the latest statements by Milorad Dodik, President of this entity, that he "does not want to give up the dream of RS and Serbia being one", represent a continuation of harmful policy, which endangers stability and raises tensions in the region, writes Patria agency.

On September 15, addressing the National Theatre in Belgrade at the event "Days of RS in Serbia 2017", Dodik stated, among other things, that when it comes to the position of the RS entity in the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, "Serbs are not in the desired place there", and that "RS wants to be in a community with Serbia".

- Dodik's statement represents a drastic violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, and with the presence and applause of the current authorities of Serbia and representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, it is even more dangerous. Given the fact that the current authorities in Serbia daily declare that they respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we expect them to distance themselves from these inflammatory statements by Dodik.

A similar policy, which fundamentally aimed at creating a Greater Serbia, led to ethnic cleansing and genocide against Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, and was ultimately defeated. Therefore, first of all, I believe that the authorities in Serbia should distance themselves from the insane policy of the President of RS, who is leading the entire region into uncertainty and possible conflicts.

On the other hand, when it comes to Dodik's policy, it is already clear to everyone that he is a political drowning man, who has squandered his chance to enter history as a positive figure. When drowning people sink, they often drag down those who try to save them.

In this case, with Dodik, not only will his policy fail, but also those who are trying to help him these days in the National Assembly of the RS entity. Dodik can continue to dream and no one will forbid him, but he should know well that many before him, who had incomparably greater strength, did not succeed in annexing this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is unjustly called the RS entity, to Serbia.

In a difficult situation when the democratic system in the RS entity does not function, when the regime police enforce order in the National Assembly, when basic human rights are endangered, when the authorities are devoid of ideas to help and do something for the people, when workers are on a hunger strike, Dodik, following a tried and tested recipe, does what he knows best – he further radicalizes and raises tensions in the entire region. That is the only way for him to remain in power.

Given the complete situation, which is always complex in these areas, and due to our commitment to do everything to ensure our citizens live better, I call on Dodik to stop dreaming and to face the truth and reality. The reality and truth are that due to his policy, a white plague reigns in this entity, entire families leave the entity every day, villages and towns remain empty, there are fewer and fewer children in schools, companies are failing, many citizens live on the brink of poverty... This devastating situation is the result of the fact that Dodik and his like-minded people do not work for the citizens, but have been living in dreams for years, dreaming of the division of this country, which they will never achieve - said Vice-President Salkić.