DODIK: POLITICAL BLOCKADE FROM SARAJEVO, NOT PROCEDURAL ONE, TOWARD EVERYTHING COMING FROM REPUBLIKA SRPSKA HINDERING OPENING OF GRADIŠKA BORDER CROSS

BANJA LUKA, DECEMBER 17 /SRNA/ – SNSD President Milorad Dodik has said that the conscious obstruction of the opening of the newly built Gradiška border crossing is yet another proof that political Sarajevo is systematically blocking the development of Republika Srpska, ignoring the needs not only of Srpska, but of all citizens and the economy of BiH.

"The citizens and economy of Republika Srpska are hostages of political obstruction and the arbitrariness of Bosniak politics, which will drive BiH into a dead end. This is a reality we have lived with for decades, yet some object when I say that BiH is a failed experiment. If they truly want BiH, which they constantly speak about, then they should engage in dialogue to reach agreements and solutions, instead of continuously pursuing a policy of blockades, blackmail, and institutional violence against Republika Srpska," Dodik stated for SRNA.

Asked to comment on the request by the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber urging the line institutions to urgently open the Gradiška border crossing to speed up the flow of goods and reduce economic losses, the SNSD leader stressed that Gradiška is fully ready—both infrastructurally and in terms of security—to be put into operation and become one of the most modern crossings in the region, but that there is no political will in Sarajevo to allow what is in the interest of all.

"For every responsible politician, the goal is to strengthen the economy and create better living conditions for all residents of BiH, except for political Bosniak Sarajevo, which seeks by every possible and impossible means to stop everything that is good. Their goal is not a modern and prosperous Dayton BiH based on dialogue and cooperation, but a unitary BiH in which decisions are made on their behalf by foreigners," Dodik stressed.

He pointed out that this blockade is not only about the Gradiška border crossing, but is a clear example of how Sarajevo views BiH—as centralized, paralyzed, and directed against Republika Srpska and one of the constituent peoples, the Serbs.

The SNSD President said that every positive initiative coming from Banja Luka is treated as a threat rather than an opportunity, and stressed that the people of Republika Srpska must not and will not be hostages of Sarajevo’s political complexes and irresponsible policies.

"The institutions of Republika Srpska have both the right and the obligation to insist on the opening of the Gradiška crossing, because this is an issue of regional economic development, basic respect for the Dayton Agreement, and constitutional jurisdictions. The blockade from political Sarajevo persists despite the fact that the bridge over the Sava River, connecting BiH and Croatia, cost EUR 19 million and was financed equally by Croatia and BiH, namely Republika Srpska, while the Federation of BiH did not invest a single mark. In addition, Indirect Taxation Authority invested BAM 24 million in the construction of the new customs terminal," Dodik pointed out.

He underlined that Sarajevo’s refusal to allow the opening of the Gradiška border crossing is not a technical issue, but purely a political one.

"This is a conscious and deliberate decision to punish Republika Srpska for refusing to be obedient and subservient. Everything else are just excuses that directly strike at the economy, transport, agriculture, and ordinary people who spend hours waiting at border crossings," Dodik concluded, adding that those blocking everything that is good should now, ahead of the upcoming holidays, explain to citizens why they are being met with hours-long queues at the border on their way home.

The newly built modern border crossing in Gradiška was constructed in line with European standards. The customs terminal and border crossing cover an area of 110,000 square meters.

The new customs terminal and crossing include a central customs and border police building, facilities for passenger and freight traffic control on exit from BiH, detailed vehicle inspection areas, phytosanitary and veterinary inspection facilities, customs offices, a freight forwarding block, and control booths.

The customs terminal has 120 parking spaces for freight vehicles and 100 parking spaces for passenger vehicles. A restaurant is also located within the new terminal and crossing.

The opening of the new border crossing between Croatia and BiH near Gradiška had been planned for December 11, but was postponed after a member of the Governing Board of the BiH Indirect Taxation Authority, Zijad Krnić, did not support amendments to the rulebook required to establish a customs office and deploy customs officers.