Dodik: Republika Srpska referendum to go ahead even if banned

BANJALUKA - The possibility of the Republika Srpska Day referendum being banned is not ruled out, but it will go ahead anyway, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik said Friday.

"There is a possibility of the referendum being banned or interim measures being introduced, but we will hold the referendum. The referendum is legal and based on our right. There are different ideas - to treat the day as statehood day, independence day. There are several possibilities," Dodik told a press conference in Banjaluka.

The September 25 referendum does not deal with secession or territorial integrity, he said.

"This is an implementation of a Constitutional Court decision to ask the people what they think about the decision. Serbia and its top officials are neither backing nor disputing the referendum - that is quite sufficient to me," Dodik said.