POLITICAL MANIPULATIONS IN RELENTLESS FIGHT AGAINST REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AND ITS PRESIDENT WILL NOT SUCCEED

BANJA LUKA, AUGUST 4 /SRNA/ - SNSD Vice President Željka Cvijanović stated today that it is the duty of the SNSD, as the most serious and strongest political organization in Republika Srpska and BiH, to take a clear stance against all manipulations in the relentless fight over the past two years against Republika Srpska and its president, Milorad Dodik.

“The SNSD will not allow this. The SNSD is firmly committed to President Dodik. Our position is that the institutions of Republika Srpska are democratically elected, and our citizens participated in their election,” Cvijanović emphasized.

She said that this is not a finished story, but it is a heavy burden for BiH, and that the SNSD does not want to do anything that would create problems for Republika Srpska.

Cvijanović emphasized that Dodik stood firm when others did not want to.

“If Dodik had said it was okay for our laws to be changed, and that it was acceptable for someone to dictate terms here 30 years after the war, probably none of this would have happened to him over the past two years,” Cvijanović said at a press conference following the SNSD Main Board meeting.

She also stated that she condemns the characterizations found in the verdict against President Dodik, which effectively nullify Republika Srpska as a party by interfering with the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Constitution, attempting to establish the High Representative as part of the constitutional system while seeking to erase the party recognized by the Dayton Agreement.

Cvijanović emphasized that this is unacceptable and calls for a broad discussion involving political, professional, and academic communities.

"Experts need to tell us whether it is normal for an unelected foreigner to impose amendments, change the Criminal Code, and issue a verdict for an act that did not even exist as a crime at the time. And even if it did, what kind of message does it send to a democratic environment when someone who is democratically elected is stopped through the judiciary?" Cvijanović pointed out.

She added that a thorough review and seriously putting things in order are needed.

Cvijanović reiterated that President Dodik has started a struggle for what is called a normal, credible, democratic, and sovereign environment, in opposition to political partners in Sarajevo who have chosen to resort not to political battles, agreements, and dialogue, but instead constantly seek refuge under the wings of certain High Representatives.

“And when even that is not enough for them, the frustrations of the High Representatives reach the judiciary. They think this is how they will settle accounts with Republika Srpska. The SNSD will not allow that,” Cvijanović pointed out.

Cvijanović stated that the SNSD wants to jointly correct certain deviations through a strong political offer that would be sovereign, very serious, and democratic, and to demonstrate unity on these issues.