Dodik: RF not encouraging Serb entity to secede

Dodik: RF not encouraging Serb entity to secede

VIŠEGRAD -- Milorad Dodik has said that Russia was not encouraging the Serb entity in Bosnia to secede, but instead "only seeks compliance with the Dayton agreement."

"The Russian Federation is exerting no pressure on Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Serb Republic (RS), other than asking that the Dayton peace agreement is respected," the RS president told reporters in Višegrad, eastern Bosnia.

Dodik in this way commented on the claim of British MP and former High Representative in Bosnia Paddy Ashdown, who over the weekend said, during a debate in the British parliament, that Russia was inciting the RS to secede and become an independent state.

Ashdown asserted that Russia was directly interfering in the internal affairs of Bosnia-Herzegovina "in a way that can only encourage secessionist tendencies of the Bosnian Serbs."

Dodik reacted by saying that Bosnia was being "brought down" precisely by Ashdown and others who received high salaries from the international community to preserve the Dayton agreement.

Ashdown will visit Bosnia this week, to attend a meeting of that country's parliament delegation will representatives of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Dodik said the trip reminded him of "a criminal returning to the scene of the crime, because he (Ashdown) had done everything so that Bosnia-Herzegovina would not function. "

Dodik added that RS had no secessionist plans, but did have the right to fight for its autonomy.

"Whether the Serb Republic will one day decide to leave Bosnia - this will depend on the moment and the political will of the Serb people, and won't be motivated by any demands coming from the outside," said Dodik...