ŠPIRIĆ: MORE HOSTILITY FROM SARAJEVO, WEAKER BiH BECOMES IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

SARAJEVO, JUNE 24 /SRNA/ – Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly Nikola Špirić said in a statement to SRNA that media statements and threats of force made by SDA President Bakir Izetbegović amount to cheap political maneuvering, warning that the more hatred comes from political Sarajevo, the less BiH there will be in Republika Srpska.

"Although this is an election period and all kinds of statements can be expected, Izetbegović has gone too far. He should know that threatening force in politics is a call to war. However, people who are focused on the future buried the hatchets long ago", Špirić said.

He added that Izetbegović is acting politically irresponsibly in Federation media, effectively directing his messages at Denis Bećirović, his rival in the race for the BiH Presidency.

"Izetbegović's opponent is not Milorad Dodik but Bećirović. Through these statements, however, he wants to demonstrate that he hates Dodik and Republika Srpska more. At the same time, he seeks to attract the opposition from Republika Srpska by directing threats at Dodik and treating them as allies in his hostility toward him and Republika Srpska", Špirić believes.

He stressed that such political rhetoric does not lead in a positive direction, regardless of the election campaign.

"The more hatred political Sarajevo directs toward Republika Srpska, the less BiH there will be in Republika Srpska. Nevertheless, for all of them, Dodik remains an institution and an unattainable goal", Špirić concluded.

SDA President Bakir Izetbegović said during an appearance on Federal Television last night that Dodik "must be resolved by some force".