Stjepan Mesić for Patria: Serbia will not be able to have a dual role in the EU as it has now in BiH

The previously announced referendum in the RS scheduled for 25 September has met with general disapproval from the international public.

The former President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesić, explained in his commentary for the Patria news agency that the referendum scheduled for tomorrow has no meaning, yet it carries the risk of being a prelude to a referendum on the secession of Republika Srpska from BiH and its accession to Serbia.

- It is an attempt, an experiment, by which Milorad Dodik wants to prove that he could organize a referendum with even harder consequences, which would separate the RS from BiH and accede it to Serbia. That was Slobodan Milošević's plan, and it is highly likely that Dodik wants to implement it, Mesić opined.

He believes that Serbia and its leadership currently present a bigger problem than Dodik, as they should have reacted much more strongly to the idea of the referendum.

- Serbia distanced itself from the referendum, but mildly. Their reaction should have been much stronger. On one hand, Serbia affirms the integrity (wholeness) of BiH, and on the other hand, they support Milorad Dodik and his denial of BiH. I call that dual politics, which cannot exist in contemporary Europe, Mesić warned.

Asked if the citizens of RS might punish Dodik's risky politics by not going to the referendum tomorrow, Mesić said that a large number of people do not comprehend the seriousness of the situation and that people are often manipulated.

The international public has condemned the referendum, and some influential officials have warned that the RS could find itself under sanctions immediately after the event.