CALL TO INITIATE DIRECT TALKS WITH FBiH ON RETURNING TO FOUNDATIONS OF DAYTON

BANJA LUKA, MAY 21 /SRNA/ – The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik today called for the initiation of direct talks with the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ on returning to the foundations of the Dayton Agreement.

"The result of these talks would be Dayton two–zero," President Dodik emphasized during his address at the special session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, which SRNA transmits in full:

"Allow me to explain what that means and, equally importantly, what it does not mean.

It does not mean secession, it does not mean escalation, it does not mean abandoning peace.

It means a return to the agreement that primarily brought a new constitutional-legal and political order to BiH, and thereby peace. It means reaffirming that laws must be interpreted as they are written, not as some would like them to be.

It means that we must say clearly, calmly, and decisively that we cannot allow the constitutional agreement to be distorted and turned into something it was never meant to be.

Article 1 of the BiH Constitution states that BiH is composed of two entities – Republika Srpska and the FBiH, and three peoples – Serbs, Bosniaks/Muslims, and Croats.

Article 3 of the Constitution says that the Constitution of BiH can only be amended if the entities – not political parties – reach an agreement, and that through a specifically prescribed procedure.

The situation we are facing today resembles the debate Americans have about their own Constitution.

Should a constitutional agreement be interpreted as originally written? Or treated as a `living document` that unelected officials can arbitrarily reshape?

That is the essence of our crisis – not nationalism, not secession, not obstruction, but interpretation.

We in Republika Srpska are originalists when it comes to Dayton. We advocate for a literal interpretation of Dayton and we are proud of that. Because Dayton functioned – until it began to be forcibly changed without authorization. It functioned – until it was hijacked.

It functioned – until foreign, unelected bureaucrats and so-called `state builders` began treating it as a blank canvas for their political and business projects. That is not democracy. That is not stability. And that is not peace.

President Donald Trump similarly and clearly stated that the United States is ceasing its efforts to build other countries and to dictate how other nations should live. If this is true – and it is – the United States is great again.

Today we say the same: enough is enough. We do not threaten, we do not rage. We speak the truth. We say – let us return to the foundations. Let us return to agreement. Let us return to Dayton."