DODIK PROUD THAT SRPSKA IS BUILDING, DESPITE ALL OBSTRUCTIONS

BIJELJINA, JUNE 12 /SRNA/ - The leader of the SNSD Milorad Dodik pointed out that the highway connection represents proof of the audacity of a generation to embark on such a massive project, and shows that Republika Srpska has continuity in investment processes, despite all obstructions.

Dodik is proud of the fact that Republika Srpska is building, along with all the delays that appear along the way.

"The biggest obstacle to our investments is BiH, its conception according to which Muslims think everything should belong to them. That infamous story about property has stopped many investors, but we found a way without them, and yet on our own with partners from Serbia and China, to find a way," Dodik told reporters near Bijeljina after the official start of the construction of the Bijeljina-Brčko highway section.

He noted that this shows that this generation of Serbs today has a team that can conceive an idea, design it, and secure partners for projects that will be beneficial for centuries.

"Here we are defeating a historical injustice which referred to the fact that many who managed BiH and the Balkans almost prevented any communication of the Serbian people from here and from Serbia. Roads of this corridor width that could attract significant traffic were never built, there were no bridges on the Drina... we have built all of them in this time. Everything we do - we do to defeat that historical injustice and to be connected as much as possible," said Dodik.

Dodik pointed out that Serbia is not only the country of Serbs, the motherland, but the most important economic partner of Republika Srpska, and such projects will only connect them even more.

"Ordinary people think that politics is just getting by day by day, but in order to get to this, you had to plan 10 years ago, and then further into procedures," said Dodik.

He thanked Serbia, which under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vučić had a positive, brotherly approach to projects in Srpska, and thus in almost every place throughout the Republic, some project was realized with the help of Serbia.

"Serbia is supposed to finance 80 percent of the highway from Rača to Bijeljina, and we 20 percent, which gives us the chance to negotiate this road and continue further. The delay on the Doboj-Vukosavlje route is related to the fact that it is Corridor Vc, and this shows that Republika Srpska has an alternative," said Dodik.

He recalled that at one time in Brussels, he talked with the then EU Commissioner in charge of investments and sought support for such roads, but they only approved discussions about Corridor Vc.

"When I asked to connect Banja Luka and Doboj, they offered a connection with Sarajevo... He conveyed to me then that everything going toward the Sava - can be done, but toward the Drina - cannot, which speaks to the fact that this is part of the old psychology of `close the Drina, leave it unconnected` because of some of their grand plans, and so we are destroying those plans because they do not suit our society," stated Dodik.