BLAGOJEVICH: SRPSKA MAKING HEADWAY TOWARD MAJOR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

BELGRADE, JUNE 22 /SRNA/ – Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich believes progress has been made in realizing major economic opportunities for Republika Srpska with the help of American businesses and companies, and says he knows that SNSD leader Milorad Dodik is determined to make it happen.

He emphasized that Republika Srpska achieved a major success through the lifting of sanctions and the "removal" of Christian Schmidt.

"Schmidt has been dismissed and that is a good thing. The Office of the High Representative is disappearing and should not exist at all. However, this is not the end but the beginning; there is still much work to be done", Blagojevich told RTRS.

He pointed out that Dodik, Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan, and the Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović are leaders who succeeded in bringing US President Donald Trump's son to Banja Luka to explore business opportunities, calling it a remarkable achievement.

"This fits with Trump's approach to foreign policy because he is, above all, a businessman. Things have been set in motion. The good news for you is that once American businesses experience the Serb work ethic, they will realize this is a good place to invest for many reasons", Blagojevich concluded.

He added that the Dayton Peace Accords ended the fighting in 1995, but was never intended to be the final outcome or constitutional framework for the people of Republika Srpska and the Bosniak and Croat parts of the Federation of BiH.

"The world, led by the United States, should now elevate this to a higher level based on the fundamental principles upon which the United States was founded, namely, the right of peoples to self-government. In this case, that means the right of the Serb people to govern themselves rather than having a foreign representative from Germany acting as High Representative and dictating terms to them", Blagojevich stressed.

He said the Dayton Accords must be reformed and a new constitutional framework established to protect the rights of the Serb people.

"The goal of political leaders in Sarajevo is to prevent these major developments I have spoken about from taking place. They want a unitary Bosnian Muslim state. Previous US presidents allowed the gradual ethnic cleansing of the Serb people in Republika Srpska, a softer version of what is happening to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. A subtle war is being waged against the Serbian people, not with bombs or weapons, but through the abuse and corruption of institutions", Blagojevich warned.

Commenting on the upcoming elections in BiH, he said he believes elections can be manipulated, with technology being one possible means.

"If you are concerned about the technology that will be used in the October elections because it is under the control of authorities in Sarajevo, I believe you have every right to be concerned. That is not paranoia or a conspiracy theory; it is practical and responsible thinking. It is extremely important that every measure be taken to protect the integrity of the upcoming elections", Blagojevich stressed.