ŠPIRIĆ: WITH OR WITHOUT SCHMIDT - BANJA LUKA MUST HAVE A SAY!

SARAJEVO, MAY 11 /SRNA/ - Deputy Chairman of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly Nikola Špirić believes that the departure of Christian Schmidt should be viewed with optimism - that a retrograde narrative from Sarajevo is also leaving with him, opening space for strategic dialogue about the future of BiH.

"In short - with or without Schmidt, Banja Luka must have a say! It would be good if his departure also returned the opposition of Republika Srpska from Sarajevo back to Banja Luka," Špirić told SRNA.

He stressed that time has shown what the failed goal of Schmidt and those who believed in him actually was, which is an attempt to destabilize the Republika Srpska institutions.

"It has become clear that the political and legal persecution of President Milorad Dodik and the destabilization of Republika Srpska institutions were a political shot against BiH. Throughout this time, there has been one consistent and legitimate goal in Banja Luka, which is respect for the Dayton-based Constitution, under which Banja Luka is the centre of decision-making for the future of Republika Srpska and for strategic decisions in BiH," Špirić stated.

He pointed out that serious political parties such as the SNSD possess both vision and courage, which recent events have confirmed, adding that this confirmation will also come in October through the elections victory.

The OHR announced that Christian Schmidt had made a personal decision to leave BiH.