KOVAČEVIĆ: SRPSKA HAS STRENGTH THAT CAN LEAD IT AND PROTECT ITS INTERESTS

BANJA LUKA, AUGUST 20 /SRNA/ - The leadership of Republika Srpska, headed by Milorad Dodik and Željka Cvijanović, has done a great deal to strengthen Srpska's international contacts and position in the world, achieving impressive results, while much has also been accomplished in terms of its internal development, Serb member of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH Radovan Kovačević said.

Kovačević said that citizens recognize this and that such contacts represent the political strength capable of leading Republika Srpska and protecting its interests. He recalled Dodik's meetings with top officials from various countries, noting that he had been to the White House and met with the president, the Israeli prime minister and speaker of the Israeli parliament, Israel's foreign minister, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and many others. "That is the strength that can lead and protect Republika Srpska," Kovačević told RTRS. Speaking about the situation in Republika Srpska, he said that, regardless of assessments coming from the FBiH and claims by some politicians that Republika Srpska is on the brink of economic collapse, the indicators tell a different story. He said that wages and pensions are rising, although they have not yet reached the level that would satisfy the authorities. Kovačević believes it is important to consider where things started and how much the economic indicators have changed in recent years. He reminded that the average salary in Republika Srpska once stood at BAM 300, while today it is close to BAM 1,800. He also said that a major investment cycle is currently underway in Republika Srpska, worth more than BAM 7 billion, and that the scale of investment shows that Republika Srpska is developing and that, despite problems and criticism, there are processes driving its economic progress. "We had parts of Republika Srpska that did not develop in the way we would have liked, but everything will eventually fall into place," Kovačević said. He identified love for Republika Srpska, the determination to preserve it, and a commitment to working every day for its development as key to its future. "The essential thing is love for Republika Srpska, the determination to preserve it, and that is something we will put into action every second so that it can develop and become a better place to live for every one of its citizens every day," Kovačević concluded.