LET’S RETURN TO DAYTON, TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS AND PARTNERS

BANJA LUKA, MAY 21 /SRNA/ – The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik told the citizens of Republika Srpska that this is our moment - not to go into battle, but to stand tall.

"Not to complain, but to take the initiative. Not to worsen the situation, but to begin a conversation about Dayton. Insisting on Dayton is not abandoning peace — it is entering the next chapter," emphasized President Dodik in his address to the National Assembly, which SRNA transmits in full:

"In light of this anniversary, we say to the world - especially to the United States: We are not your problem. We are your partner. But only if you accept us as such. We do not ask you to solve our political issues. We only ask that you remember the agreement you authored - and help us return to it.

We are ready to contribute to your strategic goals — such as access to minerals, stability, and traditional diplomacy. All we ask in return is that you adhere to the same principles that made Dayton possible: consensus, constitutionality, and sovereignty. Let's make Dayton real again!

To our friends in Europe - especially those who remember the hard lessons of history - I say this: We know Europe is not monolithic. We know there are those in Europe who understand that stability is not achieved by silencing elected leaders, but by strengthening institutions, building mutual respect, and supporting dialogue over dictat in BiH.

We know that some of the strongest voices for sovereignty and reform today come from Europe — leaders who know what it means to defend their state, while at the same time working jointly to preserve peace. To those leaders, and to all European partners who want a future based on equality, law, and mutual respect — our doors are open. Do not close them!

Let's work together - not to erase Dayton, but to implement it. We all want a Europe where agreements are respected, differences acknowledged, and sovereignty is not seen as a threat, but as the foundation of cooperation.

I thank Serbia, which consistently respects the Dayton Agreement and always stands with Republika Srpska. To Russia, which has always supported the letter of the Dayton Agreement. The principled and consistent policy of Moscow continuously calls for respect for international treaties, rejects interference in the internal affairs of other states, and opposes arbitrary interventionism. We remain partners with great Russia in all things.

We thank China for its principled and politically neutral stance, for its consistent action in the Security Council on matters relating to BiH.

We want cooperation with everyone. To the guarantors of the Dayton Agreement, I offer both gratitude and a call: Allow us to reach an internal agreement in BiH. Close the OHR, abolish the Office of the High Representative, and leave the Constitutional Court to domestic judges, as provided by the Dayton Agreement.

Let us return to the Dayton Agreement. Let us achieve that together - with partners at home, with friends in Russia and China, with partners in the United States and Europe, with all allies in truth and law, as dignified and free peoples who will never entrust their future to anyone but themselves."