KOVAČEVIĆ: MILORAD DODIK IS THE PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA UNTIL THE SERB PEOPLE SAY OTHERWISE

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 20 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik carries out his presidential duties normally and daily in accordance with the Constitution of Republika Srpska, and all citizens of Republika Srpska and beyond can notice this, SNSD spokesman Radovan Kovačević stated today.

"This could have been observed during Dodik’s visits to Budapest and Moscow, as well as today, when he is attending a military parade in Serbia. In all these instances, he is, of course, acting in the capacity and function of the President of Republika Srpska and as someone expressing the state unity of Republika Srpska," Kovačević told reporters in Banja Luka. Kovačević emphasized that the President of Republika Srpska has authorized the Vice President of the Republic, Davor Pranjić, to sign, in addition to himself, decrees on the promulgation of laws, but only with the President’s consent. "Thus, the President has not relinquished any of his presidential powers and continues, normally and daily, to perform the duties of the President of the Republic in every setting," said Kovačević, who is also a Serb member of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH. According to him, it is clear that there are intentions by a hostile court and prosecutor’s office to continue the persecution of Republika Srpska, the Serb people, all citizens, and officials of Republika Srpska, including the President of Republika Srpska. "I don’t think this needs to be explained to anyone in Republika Srpska, especially to those who are well-intentioned toward Republika Srpska. However, we will certainly not assist them in this," Kovačević stated. Kovačević emphasized that those who immediately rushed to claim that the President had transferred his powers, and who spread various trivialities and nonsense, "are pleased to see Republika Srpska diminished and that the question of who is its President is not decided by the Serb people and the citizens of Republika Srpska, but by Christian Schmidt and those who have the same level of legitimacy as him, such as Crnadak, Vukanović, and others who do not have the support of the Serb people and the citizens of Republika Srpska." "Milorad Dodik remains the President of Republika Srpska; he was yesterday, he is today, and he will be tomorrow. He will remain so until the citizens of Republika Srpska decide otherwise," Kovačević emphasized.