Vučić: It is important for me that Republika Srpska exists within BiH

I want the closest possible relations between Serbia and Republika Srpska, but I also want the closest possible relations between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, said the Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, as a guest on the show “Puls” BN TV, reports the Patria News Agency. 

He emphasized that after almost 25 difficult years, efforts must be made to strengthen relations and turn towards the future for the sake of coming generations.

Although there is a quiet debate about who Serbia helped more, the authorities or the opposition, in the recent General Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, says that Serbia did not take sides, and that only those who are politically biased do not want to see that Serbia played a calming, reconciling, and honest role in the entire process, respecting exclusively the will of the people.

-My friends are in both the government and the opposition. Do you want me to say that Mr. Bosić or Mr. Tadić are not my friends? Well, they are. And in a party sense, they were closer to me than people from the SNSD party. To say that I do not respect the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, is not realistic, says Vučić and adds:

-The difference at both levels was a few thousand votes, so now tell me that Serbia did not support one side at one level and the other side at another level. Serbia's support is always for peace, stability, and democracy in Republika Srpska, we will always respect the will of the people, and we will work with legally and legitimately elected authorities. I received Milorad Dodik in Belgrade, I also received Mladen Ivanić, and I will always receive Mr. Tadić and Mr. Bosić when they are in Belgrade, I have no problem with that”.

Despite the advocacy of some politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the creation of a third entity, Prime Minister Vučić says that Serbia respects every agreement, and emphasizes that the only important thing is that Republika Srpska exists within Bosnia and Herzegovina and that territorial integrity is respected.

“Serbia respects the Dayton Peace Agreement and Serbia respects every agreement of the three constituent peoples. We want success for Bosnia and Herzegovina, we love Republika Srpska, and we do not want to disrupt internal relations in BiH in any way. If we can help, we will, and if we cannot, we will do nothing bad”, says Vučić and adds:

“It is important for me that Republika Srpska exists within BiH, and that the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state and Republika Srpska as its entity is respected, and it is important for us as members of the Serbian people that the rights of Serbs are not threatened, and we want the best possible relations with both Croats and Bosniaks”.

Vučić reiterated that Serbia's strategic commitment is to remain on the European path, as well as economic and political stability. Serbia, Vučić announced, will do its best to maintain stability not only within itself but in the entire region, and expressed confidence that Serbia will perform better economically already this year.