DODIK: THEY WANT SRPSKA TO FUND INSTITUTIONS THAT WORK AGAINST SERBS

BANJA LUKA, AUGUST 17 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik stated today that the budget for joint institutions, proposed by BiH Presidency members Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić, aims to make Republika Srpska fund cultural institutions that essentially work against the Serbian people.

Dodik emphasized that the Serbian people do not identify with the culture of BiH, but with their own national culture, and that they have their institutions in this field.

He believes that even opposition representatives in Republika Srpska understand that it is not in the Republic's interest to increase budget allocations for the Armed Forces of BiH, as proposed by Bećirović and Komšić.

"/Defense Minister in the Council of Ministers Zukan/ Helez is undoubtedly cooperating with Iran. They need these funds to complete projects with Iran that they agreed upon, projects that are not in the interest of Republika Srpska," Dodik told RTRS.

He emphasized that strengthening the Armed Forces of BiH is not in the interest of Republika Srpska, but rather their abolition.

Dodik reminded that the Fiscal Council of BiH has adopted a budget framework in accordance with legal provisions.

Komšić and Bećirović proposed a budget for the joint institutions of BiH outside the position of the BiH Fiscal Council, which, among other things, allocates an additional BAM 30 million for the Armed Forces of BiH and BAM eight million for "cultural institutions at the BiH level."