CVIJANOVIĆ: SRPSKA WILL GAIN MORE FRIENDS WHO UNDERSTAND ITS DESIRE FOR CLEAR CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 7 /SRNA/ – The Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović stated that Republika Srpska already has, and will continue to gain many international friends and partners who understand its desire to have a clear constitutional position within BiH.

Cvijanović emphasized that Republika Srpska is not asking for anything that does not belong to it, but only for the constitutional position granted to it by the Constitution and the Dayton Peace Agreement. "Today, unlike twenty years ago, Republika Srpska has many friends around the world with whom it can communicate. However, unlike our Bosniak colleagues, we do not do this to abuse anyone's position or to work against someone. We work for our sincere goals - peace, stability, and for everyone to enjoy their rights, instead of having to fight daily for the realization of our constitutional rights," Cvijanović said in SRNA's podcast. She stressed that this is how a rule-of-law state should function, otherwise it becomes an experiment such as BiH has been for three decades. Cvijanović pointed out that representatives of Republika Srpska have managed to make certain things visible on the international stage, which has greatly improved mutual understanding. "Some have even admitted they wronged Republika Srpska, though it's not the time to talk about that now. Still, I want our citizens to know that this has been a planned activity we have carried out for several years, with a clear purpose, regardless of how some now try to portray it," Cvijanović said. She added that this planned activity required certain sacrifices, such as those made by President Milorad Dodik, but the goal was to position Republika Srpska as a serious and credible interlocutor, even if some actions at the time appeared harmful. "If you want to work with someone, it must be based on credibility. For all of us in the institutions of Republika Srpska, it was important to show that we are credible, and that we can reach agreements and then implement them. You must show institutional strength, that whatever you decide, you are capable of carrying it out, and Srpska has that," Cvijanović said. She emphasized that Republika Srpska will continue to gain more international partners, but that it is essential to understand current global processes. According to her, anyone paying attention can clearly see the foreign policy goals of the United States, which are focused not on building other people's states, but on peace, stability, and good economic cooperation. She noted that this was evident both during last week's UN Security Council session and in May, at the event marking the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Agreement in Ohio, when representatives of the new US administration called on BiH's domestic leaders to engage in dialogue and reach agreements. "The messages were clear - no heavy-handedness, no interventions, no interference. Matters that belong to you should be resolved through agreements among the constituent peoples," Cvijanović said. She stressed that this approach is very positive and represents the very essence of the Dayton Agreement, that is dialogue and consensus among representatives of the three constituent peoples. Cvijanović added that she was pleased with the statements from certain UN Security Council members, who identified problems regarding Christian Schmidt's actions. "Now you have a situation where the US has taken a clear step forward and presented its policy guidelines. Those who interpret it differently are the ones who haven't read anything before and probably won't after. This is a new direction in US policy. Out of the five major powers, only one now says that the Bonn powers and the experimental methods we've witnessed for 30 years should continue. All the others understand that it's time to turn a new page, one that must be filled with better things than in previous years," Cvijanović stated. She concluded that she sees potential for cooperation between Republika Srpska and the United States, which is open to both economic collaboration and political understanding, and that there are many countries Srpska views as strategic or potential partners. "In Republika Srpska, we believe that the current US administration under President Donald Trump has clear and well-intentioned goals," Cvijanović concluded.