DODIK: I ASKED RUSSIAN OFFICIALS TO HELP CLOSE THE OHR

MOSCOW, SEPTEMBER 9 /SRNA/ - The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik stated that he asked high-ranking Russian officials in Moscow to use their influence to help close the Office of the High Representative /OHR/ in BiH.

Dodik said he asked Russia to use its influence and contacts in the United Nations to counter the chaos constantly being created by Christian Schmidt, the unauthorized High Representative. "What he is doing could fundamentally jeopardize the Dayton Peace Agreement and lead to the collapse of BiH through the dysfunction of the joint institutions," Dodik said at a press conference in Moscow after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He emphasized that the issue of the BiH Constitutional Court’s operation needs to be addressed, where international judges, supported by Bosniak judges, play a decisive role. "They are altering the constitutional order in BiH, persistently and unjustifiably blaming the Serbs for it," Dodik added. He also stated that Republika Srpska is committed to restoring the original Dayton Peace Agreement. "We have nothing against the Croatian people receiving their own, or a third entity within the Federation of BiH. That would be fair," Dodik said. He emphasized that Republika Srpska will continue to cooperate with Russia, on which BiH has never imposed sanctions, thanks to Srpska, despite Bosniak desires to do so. "BiH has never decided to impose sanctions on Russia. I am grateful to Russia and its leadership, headed by President Vladimir Putin, for their cooperation. They are familiar with the situation here and are committed to peacefully resolving issues, respecting BiH that consists of two equal entities and three constituent peoples," Dodik concluded.