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

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

The former President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, explained in his commentary for news agency Patria that, the referendum scheduled for tomorrow does not have any meaning, yet it carries a risk of being a prelude to the referendum on 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 the plan of Slobodan Milosevic, and it is highly likely that Dodik wants to implement it, Mesic opined.

He thinks that Serbia and its leadership present a bigger problem right now than Dodik, as they should have come forth with a much stronger reaction to the idea of referendum.

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

Asked if the citizens of RS may punish Dodik's risky politics by not going to referendum tomorrow, Mesic 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 of the influential officials have warned that the RS could find itself under sanctions immediately after the event.