JOVANOVIĆ: SARAJEVO AND SCHMIDT PUSHING TOWARD NEW ESCALATION, BUT FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THE DETERMINATION OF THE SERBS

BELGRADE, August 18 /SRNA/ – Former FR Yugoslavia Foreign Minister Živadin Jovanović told SRNA that the latest decision of the Court of BiH concerning Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik demonstrates that political Sarajevo and those behind the concept of destabilizing BiH, led by the illegitimate Christian Schmidt, are moving toward further escalation, but fail to grasp the determination of the Serb people in BiH and the leadership of Srpska to preserve their rights.

Jovanović stressed that the rejection of the appeal filed by Dodik's legal team against the decision of the BiH Central Election Commission /CEC/ to strip the legitimate president of Srpska of his mandate confirms that Sarajevo and Schmidt continue to act in a manner that cannot in any way be described as well-intentioned, constructive, or conducive to normalization, but instead leads to escalation.

"On the other hand, this shows that they fail to understand the readiness of the Serb people and the leadership of Republika Srpska to persevere in their efforts to preserve Republika Srpska as an equal entity and to safeguard the status of the Serb people as a constituent nation of BiH," Jovanović said.

He added that this represents a continuation of the illusion that the situation in BiH can somehow be reversed and all efforts to uphold the Dayton–Paris Peace Agreement halted.

"It is necessary to continue political and diplomatic efforts, especially now in the context of a new global atmosphere characterized by a stronger focus on overcoming the global crisis and confrontations, and directing efforts toward peace and solutions to all problems by removing their causes," Jovanović emphasized.

He underlined that in this regard, Republika Srpska can count on even greater support and understanding from Serbia and other friendly countries, including Russia and China.

"I believe that parallel work is needed on the diplomatic and political levels, while internally overcoming any potential difficulties and obstacles on the path of strengthening the unity of the Serb people," Jovanović said.

The Appeals Chamber of the unconstitutional BiH Court today rejected the appeal of the legal team of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik against the BiH CEC's decision to revoke his mandate.

The CEC had adopted its decision at a session on August 6, terminating Dodik's mandate on the grounds of his non-compliance with the decisions of the illegitimate Christian Schmidt.