DODIK: PART OF BELGRADE POPULATION VERY NEGATIVE TOWARDS SRPSKA

BELGRADE, DECEMBER 21 /SRNA/ - The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik has stated tonight that during the past elections in Serbia and afterwards the opposition list "Serbia Against Violence" insulted the citizens of Republika Srpska, who are now aware of the fact that there is a part of people in Belgrade are very negative towards Srpska.

Dodik said that the love of the people of Republika Srpska for Serbia is great and that no one has the right to touch that. "It is quite a blow that no one in Republika Srpska expected, and therefore it is painful. What you have done and what you are saying hurts us more than anything from Sarajevo. You cannot ask Republika Srpska for any respect. That is how you permanently buried the support from Republika Srpska", said Dodik and emphasized that Republika Srpska will never forget this. He pointed out that the people from Republika Srpska exercised their right in the elections in Serbia in accordance with the laws of Serbia, which enabled them as its citizens to participate in the elections. Dodik stressed that the citizens of Republika Srpska, who on Sunday, December 17, participated in the elections in Serbia and decided to support the list of /President of Serbia/ Aleksandar Vučić, are not against Serbia and are very interested in Serbia being strong. "We are not against Serbia, we are part of one nation. That's how we feel and we are very interested in Serbia being strong, being the strongest in the region," said Dodik. He said that the people from Republika Srpska exercised their right in the elections in Serbia in accordance with the laws of Serbia, which enabled them as its citizens to participate in the elections. Dodik also said that he was not satisfied with the number of people who went to the polls and have Serbian citizenship, and said that he would discuss with the Serbian leadership about providing the citizens of Republika Srpska with automatic Serbian citizenship, especially since Hungary and Croatia have already applied it. "We need to complete that. Now we have become aware of the fact that there is a part of people in Belgrade who are very negative towards Srpska. That is why, as part of our defense, we must ask for an increased opportunity to defend our position and Serbia. To defend it from those who see the fault in everyone, but not in themselves, such as this party of Đilas, which is shamefully names Serbia against violence','' Dodik told "Pink" Television. He also said that what the "Serbia against violence" coalition is doing now is a consequence of their failed politics, including what they said about Republika Srpska and its citizens, claiming that they are "genocide" and that they should not come to Serbia. "You slandered us in front of foreigners and said that we were something unnecessary. Those around Dragan Đilas never asked us how we were doing or if we needed anything. If they had shown some interest in us, they might have attracted some people from Srpska. But they permanently buried support in Republika Srpska. Do not expect a minimum of respect from us after what you are doing. You have offended us to the core. You have not even tried to apologize to us. We will settle the score by political dialogue," said Dodik. Dodik mentioned that it is also unacceptable that professors who teach at faculties in Serbia constantly talk about Republika Srpska in a negative context.