NOT A SINGLE DAY OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA'S LIFE WAS EASY, BUT IT STANDS STRONG TODAY

BANJA LUKA, JULY 29 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik stated that not a single day of Republika Srpska’s political life has been easy or free of pressure, but that today it stands strong and its political role is growing stronger.

Dodik emphasized that the pressures on Republika Srpska have been motivated solely by the intention to abolish it, or, if that is not possible, at least to render it meaningless. "Our enemies from the international community, mostly Western, have persistently done it through their concepts of state organization and the creation of nations and peoples. This aligned with the interests of the Muslims in BiH, who cannot accept the existence of Republika Srpska and currently tolerate it only out of the belief that it will eventually disappear on its own," Dodik said. He emphasized that Republika Srpska today stands strong economically and financially, while its political role continues to grow. Dodik emphasized that Republika Srpska is doing everything it can to establish good relations with the Donald Trump administration, just like everyone else in the world, noting that while there has been some progress, it has not come as quickly as some might expect. He said he is satisfied with the fact that several global actions taken by that administration have significantly eased Srpska’s position. "Trump said several times that America is stepping back from building other states and interfering in their internal affairs, and we feel it," Dodik told "Banjaluka.net." Dodik emphasized that Republika Srpska has shown its intention to survive and grow stronger, and that all the challenges it has faced have been an opportunity to demonstrate its determination for political and territorial life. Commenting on the possible departure of Christian Schmidt from BiH, Dodik said that BiH does not have a High Representative, so the issue is not even up for discussion. “As far as I'm concerned, he never even came to BiH,” Dodik stated. He added that the OHR should be removed from both political and practical life, and that any relocation of the OHR from Sarajevo to Geneva would be unfavorable for Republika Srpska. He noted that the EU ambassador in Sarajevo supports the unappointed High Representative, assuming he is about to retire, and called it a shameful stain on his career that a European could support the imposition of a foreigner who was never elected. Commenting on the future of the decisions imposed by Christian Schmidt in the event of his departure from BiH, Dodik said they must be annulled. "There is a way. Parliament can annul it. It says it's not valid — goodbye, have a nice day. You won’t do it? Then we won’t live under such circumstances either," Dodik said. According to him, Srpska has no issue with a constitutional BiH, but with a distorted one, and it is distorted as long as Schmidt is present. "We will endure. We've overcome many, and we'll get past him, too. Republika Srpska will endure; it knows what it wants," Dodik said. Dodik believes that the EU today is a group of "quarrelling" countries and governments on European soil and questions whether we should remain on that path.