23 October 2021

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, met with the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik tonight, with whom he discussed the political development of the situation in B&H, the economic situation, but also the energy crisis in the region.

"We had extensive preparations for today's meeting, on all important topics in the relations between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also talked about the Army of the Republic of Srpska and I conveyed important messages from people from Europe and the world. I am grateful that he expressed his willingness to listen to other opinions. It is important to preserve peace and show that the Republic of Srpska is not the source of the problem, but that we are all ready to talk in the region. Our position is clear and firm. I will not say that we warn, but I ask everyone to talk and solve problems through dialogue. Serbia will not join the sanctions. As long as I am the president, there will be no blockades on the Drina", said President Vučić after the meeting and added that the Serbian member of the Presidency of B&H unequivocally said that the Republic of Srpska does not want to create problems on purpose, but that their moves were a reaction to taking the right to the use of the forest away from the RS and handing it over to Sarajevo.

President Vučić pointed out that the conversation has no alternative and that it is necessary to talk to Bosniaks, but also that we should all abandon our dreams of victory over the other.

"We talked about the development of infrastructure and the merging of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska and Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In accordance with that, we expect the signing of a commercial contract on the construction of the highway from Sremska Raca to Bijeljina by the end of the year. That is a great thing, both for the Republic of Srpska and for Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also important to make the road from Visegrad to Sarajevo as soon as possible. We are connecting Pazar and Tutin with Belgrade and Sarajevo. The unification of the Bosniak and Serb peoples is important for the development of economic relations. When we build the Ruma-Sabac highway and the Sabac-Loznica highway, which we will extend to Mali Zvornik, we will further increase the strength and continuity of communication with B&H and the Republic of Srpska", said President Vučić, adding that he had talked with the Serbian member of the B&H Presidency about the economic situation, and especially about the shortages of electricity.

"The crisis threatens a large number of countries in the region. We also talked about preparing a joint platform for talks with all partners about the construction of a branch of the gas pipeline from the territory of Serbia to Banja Luka", emphasized President Vučić. He also said that funds for the construction of the airport in Trebinje have been provided and that the planning and project documentation for the construction of this airport will be ready in March next year.

Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, pointed out that the situation in B&H is complex and that it was caused by a combination of various events in the past.

"I informed President Vučić about the situation in B&H, as well as about the culmination of unfavorable situations for the Serbian people in the Republic of Srpska. The Republic of Srpska is being disempowered, the situation is very confusing, in which no one wants to sit down and negotiate, and conflicts are not necessary. I am not ready to sacrifice peace for the Republic of Srpska, but I am ready to sacrifice everything else for the Republic of Srpska. Peace has no price and no alternative, and I am grateful to President Vučić for taking the time to listen to me", Milorad Dodik said tonight, adding that the Republic of Srpska is being disempowered by the persistent force of the international factor.

"We cannot give in, in the sense of allowing them to take away our land and forests", said the Serbian member of the Presidency of B&H, commenting on recent decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and assessed that today, the Republic of Srpska, as a signatory to the Dayton Agreement, is being "disempowered", unlike the Federation of B&H and the Brcko District.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: Dimitrije Goll