CEC DECISION DOES NOT REFLECT DEMOCRATIC WILL OF CITIZENS OF SRPSKA

EAST SARAJEVO, AUGUST 28 /SRNA/ - East Sarajevo Mayor Ljubiša Ćosić told SRNA that today’s decision of the Central Election Commission /CEC/ of BiH does not reflect the democratic will of the citizens of Republika Srpska.

"The democratic will of the citizens, when it comes to the Declaration of the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska rejecting the verdict against the President of Srpska Milorad Dodik was expressed through the majority of assembly members who are saying – you cannot convict our president, we will not have elections again, we condemn and reject this," Ćosić said. Commenting on the CEC's decision to schedule early elections for the President of Republika Srpska on November 23, Ćosić stressed that the CEC of BiH wants, following the example of its foreign mentors, to act as a body that sits somewhere outside and makes decisions for BiH without considering the consequences. He said that he understands those who do not like Republika Srpska and therefore do everything to destabilize it, because they have a clear goal, but he cannot understand Serbs who do the same. "At the very least, they could have refrained from voting," Ćosić stated. Ćosić stated that he still holds a glimmer of hope in what is called the institutions of BiH, believing that they could be part of the segment that saves this country. "However, these people are wandering; they are only tearing it apart. These are people who act as if they do not live in BiH, and those who represent Republika Srpska in the CEC act as if they do not live in Srpska. When a single opinion is imposed, that is autocracy, the rule of a king. When different opinions exist, but the majority prevails, then that is respected, and that is democracy," Ćosić said. Republika Srpska, according to the conclusions of the National Assembly of August 22, rejected the possibility of holding early elections for the president of Republika Srpska and requested that all authorities of Srpska and local self-government units refrain from undertaking any actions related to their implementation. At that time, the National Assembly of Republika Srpska adopted a decision to call a referendum regarding the ruling of the unconstitutional Court of BiH against the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and the decision of the CEC BiH on the termination of his mandate, setting the referendum date for October 25. The referendum question reads: "Do you accept the decisions of the unelected foreigner, Christian Schmidt, and the ruling of the unconstitutional Court of BiH issued against the President of Republika Srpska, as well as the decision of the CEC to revoke the mandate of the President of Srpska Milorad Dodik?"