DODIK: EVERYONE WHO VOTES FOR STUDENT LIST WILL BE VOTING AGAINST SERBIA

BELGRADE, OCTOBER 18 /SRNA/ - President Milorad Dodik stressed that the Serb people in Republika Srpska had made enormous sacrifices and suffered horrific losses, only to now be expected to calmly watch representatives of the Student List in Serbia call them criminals.

"We will not forgive these ugly labels. I call on all Serbs in Republika Srpska, as well as those originally from Republika Srpska, to vote for Aleksandar Vučić and against the Student List," Dodik told TV Prva.

Dodik said it would be very bad if they were to be in charge of anything in the future.

"They think they need to make themselves heard by shouting, and that everyone else should respect and implement what they say. They have no idea how to get anything done," Dodik said.

Dodik stressed that anyone who votes for such a policy will be voting against Serbia.

"They are not worthy of representing the Serb people, and they will never represent us. We will continue to fight alongside Aleksandar Vučić because we believe he is the only right choice for the Serb people at this time," Dodik said.

Dodik reiterated that Serbia should allow Serbs in Republika Srpska to hold dual citizenship and grant them the right to vote and stand for election.

"We are one people, with one identity, one faith, one script and one set of customs. What holds us together is our Serbian national history and our national future. We are interested in a future that binds us together. We promote the idea of one people, one state. If Germany was able to do it, so can we," Dodik stressed.

Dodik said he expected around 20,000 people from Republika Srpska to vote in the upcoming elections in Serbia.

Dodik said that no event that takes place, nor the reaction to it, including everything that has happened following the collapse of the canopy in Novi Sad, is the product of the ingenuity of local people.

According to him, this is the work of those forces interested in destabilizing Serbia and the Serb people, as they have built their careers in Europe over the past 30 years on these efforts.

Dodik added that, as Serbia stabilizes, they lose the basis for their own activities.

"On the other hand, many neighboring countries and peoples, including Albanians, Montenegrins, Bosniaks and Croats, want a weak Serbia. Because only a weak Serbia suits them. This is an expression of their political positions, even if they do not state them publicly. Given that Aleksandar Vučić has dared to build a stronger Serbia, he does not suit them," Dodik said.

Dodik said that the path Aleksandar Vučić had chosen, to endure, persevere and refuse to back down, would pay off more in the long run than what we are seeing today.

"Politically defeating that blockade movement would be one of the historic events in Serbia’s history that will shape the century ahead," Dodik concluded.