Premier Dodik: Kosovo would raise Republika Srpska to its feet

Glas Javnosti daily, Belgrade, Tuesday, September 19, 2006

 

Republika Srpska Premier Dodik on the consequences of the possible independence of Kosovo and Metohija

 

Kosovo would raise Republika Srpska to its feet

 

If Kosovo becomes independent, people in Republika Srpska who agreed to participate in Bosnia-Herzegovina despite the fact they have been dissatisfied the whole time will demand the same status for RS as for Kosovo. We will ask for the right of confederation of a union of states within the internationally recognized borders of Bosnia-Herzegovina

 

BELGRADE - In the past few months the Serbian key duo of Boris Tadic and Vojislav Kostunica has suddenly become very, very close with Republika Srpska president and prime minister Dragan Cavic and Milorad Dodik, respectively. The visible drawing nearer of Serbs from the two sides of the Drina is being interpreted by some as a signal to the world on the fate of Srpska should Kosovo become independent. In other words, a resuscitation of the old story about an exchange of the southern province for the Serb part of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

 

Dodik, who claims that the growing closeness of Belgrade and Banja should be understood exclusively at the level of political cooperation, also emphasizes that citizens of Republika Srpska would react to the independence of Kosovo.

 

"Our position on Kosovo has been known for some time. However, if Kosovo becomes independent, people in Republika Srpska who agreed to participate in Bosnia-Herzegovina despite the fact they have been dissatisfied the whole time will demand the same status for RS as for Kosovo," emphasizes Dodik.

 

In response to our question about the possibility of an exchange of Kosovo for Srpska, the RS Premier recalled the words of Charles Crawford, former British ambassador to Belgrade and Sarajevo:

 

"Upon returning home Crawford said that the international community has different standards to almost identical situations - Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina, i.e. Republika Srpska. Since normal coexistence of all is not possible in Bosnia-Herzegovina nor in Kosovo, he advocated that the peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina have the possibility of choosing where they want to live. He added that it would be very difficult to use different means to address the same type of situation."

 

During the short time he has reclaimed the prime minister's office, Dodik has visited Belgrade four times. We saw him with Tadic at the final game of the European Waterpolo Championship, with Kostunica at the border crossing of Raca, and he even visited [the annual brass festival in] Guca. He also sat with the Serbian premier during a football friendly between Borac and Crvena Zvezda, and he hosted Tadic and Kostunica in Banski Dvori [the government building in Banja Luka].

 

Muhamed Sacirbey [aka Sacirbegovic], Alija Izetbegovic's right hand man, added more oil to the fire with claims that Slobodan Milosevic and Bill Clinton agreed on the eve of Dayton to give Republika Srpska the right to a referendum on independence. Dodik said he personally has no knowledge of this but that he believes it is true "because Sacirbey was one of the most important politicians at that time". Moreover, Dodik has requested the right to vote in Serbian elections for Serbs from the other side of the Drina.

 

Since Dodik is well aware of the obligations imposed by the Dayton Agreement, he emphasized that he knows what needs to be done.

 

"Within the internationally recognized borders of Bosnia-Herzegovina we are asking for the right to organize a federative republic, and because we are tired of constant rejection, soon we will insist on either a confederation or a union of states. The Croats are also unhappy. This will also have to be addressed at some point in the near future because we can't go on like this," said Dodik.

 

Commenting on the fact that Sarajevo is shouting from the rooftops that an agreement on special parallel relations between Serbia and Republika Srpska is impossible, Dodik only said shortly, as he laughed: "I am delighted with the fact that Sarajevo will turn green with envy when we sign it."

 

By J. Jevremovic

 

(Translated on September 19, 2006 by sib)