ANĐELKOVIĆ: EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SUPPORT FROM BUDAPEST TO SRPSKA

BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 5 /SRNA/ – Political analyst Dragoljub Anđelković told SRNA that the visit of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik to Budapest is extremely important, as it clearly showed that Hungary, as an EU member state, supports the legitimate right of Srpska to organize a referendum, meaning that the people have the final say.

Anđelković emphasized that after Dodik's visit yesterday, it is clear that part of the EU does not accept the arbitrariness and neo-colonial behavior of Christian Schmidt. "In this way, the Euro-Atlantic policy in BiH, which is oppressive and anti-democratic, is being challenged from within the very core of the EU, which is of great importance for Republika Srpska," Anđelković said, commenting on the outcomes of Dodik's meetings in Budapest with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Minister of Culture and Innovation Balazs Hanko. He stressed that it is extremely important that Hungary, as an EU member state, confirmed that the people of Republika Srpska, in line with democratic tradition, have the final word. Anđelković noted that support from Russia and China is of huge importance, as these are major powers, but one must bear in mind that these are non-European states and not EU members. "Here, from within the EU itself, comes a voice of reason and support for Republika Srpska, and now no one can claim that Srpska is trampling so-called European values, because precisely from the EU, where those values are upheld, comes support for Srpska," Anđelković emphasized. He pointed out that Schmidt and the Sarajevo elite, who declaratively swear by proclaimed European values, are the ones actually trampling them in practice. "That is why it is important that this is pointed out from within the EU," Anđelković said. He believes that Republika Srpska, despite claims and assessments that it is isolated, has vast opportunities for international cooperation with countries outside the Euro-Atlantic bloc. "One should not forget that Euro-Atlantic countries and those dependent on them make up only about twenty percent of the world’s states. But even within that bloc, Hungary demonstrates that there is no unity when it comes to negative positions toward Republika Srpska, therefore further proving that Srpska is not isolated and can act dynamically both within the EU and beyond it," Anđelković emphasized. Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik met yesterday in Budapest with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation Balazs Hanko. Szijjarto expressed support for holding a referendum in Republika Srpska, stating that it is the people who choose who will lead them. He stressed that the future of Srpska should not be decided by Budapest, Brussels, or Berlin, but by the people in Banja Luka, that is, in Republika Srpska.