DODIK: REPUBLIKA SRPSKA WILL NOT VOTE IN EU ACCESSION REFERENDUM

MOSCOW, JUNE 13 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska will not vote in a referendum on EU accession, which irritates Brussels, whose politics is directed at supporting Muslims in BiH, President Milorad Dodik said for TASS.

"I think that the majority will not vote for European integration, if we are talking about Serbs and Republika Srpska. That, of course, irritates Brussels. But that is the result of their failed policy, primarily aimed at supporting Muslims in BiH, and not objectivity", Dodik said.

According to him, society in Republika Srpska is currently not ready for European integration due to the policy of the Brussels administration, which for years has been negative and has offered only bad solutions.

He repeated that Republika Srpska will not allow visas for Russian citizens to be introduced, just as it did not allow sanctions against Russia.

"BiH does not exist without Serbs. And Serbs say: visas for Russian citizens will not be introduced. Bosniaks cannot make such a decision without us. People from my party will not vote for this. If they do not vote, the visa regime for Russian citizens will not be introduced, something that some have been insisting on for years", said Dodik, who is the leader of SNSD.

Republika Srpska will absolutely not allow visas for Russian citizens, even if it means they will try to punish it, Dodik emphasized and added that it remains to be seen how things will unfold.

Dodik also stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is acting wisely by avoiding major strikes on Ukraine that would lead to numerous civilian casualties.

"So far there has not been a single case where Russian weapons caused the death of a large number of civilians. Of course, there have been casualties, but they were never targets", Dodik says.

He noted that there are calls for a stronger response, but that Russia is striving for a strategic goal, which is minimizing civilian suffering.