DODIK: EU STANDS IN THE WAY OF DEVELOPMENT, BiH IS SRPSKA'S BIGGEST WEAKNESS

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 28 /SRNA/ - President Milorad Dodik said barriers to the flow of goods are unacceptable and that he has become a Eurosceptic, adding that he may soon come to the view that the EU is the main obstacle to the region's development.

"I've gone from Euro-optimist to Eurosceptic. But I think I will very soon come to the view that the main obstacle to development here is the EU," Dodik said at the panel "When Obstacles Become Turning Points - Politics, Trade and Major Challenges" at the Regional Trade Summit in Banja Luka.

Dodik said BiH is the biggest problem and weakness of Republika Srpska, adding that within such a framework it is difficult to define joint policies and implement them.

"For us to be a successful society and more economically successful, one day we must part ways," Dodik said.

Speaking about Srpska0s geopolitical position, Dodik said that the Russian Federation, unlike the EU, does not restrict cooperation with other partners.

He said Srpska has the opportunity to buy oil from the Russian Federation at significantly lower prices, but the EU prevents it from doing so.

"We could have extremely low oil prices here. We could do that, but we can’t because of the EU," Dodik said.

Referring to relations with Serbia, Dodik said Republika Srpska has had excellent cooperation with its authorities and should maintain such relations in the future.

"We in Srpska must stand by the officially elected people in Serbia. I had excellent cooperation with /former Serbian President Aleksandar/ Vučić. I want to have good relations with everyone," Dodik said.

He said Republika Srpska wants to complete the highway to Serbia, carry out its energy projects and its investments in agriculture in the future.

He reminded that Republika Srpska maintains low electricity prices, the lowest in the region, and offers businesses stability and clear policies.

Dodik stressed that the role of the authorities is to preserve social stability and create good conditions for the business community, adding that Srpska has developed numerous business zones and that businesspeople who come to Srpska once do not leave.

He noted that food, energy, political stability and culture are the development priorities of Republika Srpska, and that its policy must focus on economic expansion and greater placement of domestic products on world markets.

He said that in politics one must fight for true values, that Srpska has a clear position on questions of social values and will not accept the introduction of the terms "parent one" and "parent two" into textbooks.

He stressed that Republika Srpska will work even more rigorously to protect the family, children and education.

He said Republika Srpska has a large number of young people who can work on developing modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, and that their work must be supported by the Government of Srpska.

As a significant step in that direction, he cited the development of the Science and Technology Center in Banja Luka, as well as the development of similar capacities in other parts of Republika Srpska.

He concluded that the success of young people and support for achieving their goals are of primary importance.