PROBLEMS WITH BiH PROCESSES MUST BE RAISED AS KEY ISSUE IN MOSCOW-WASHINGTON DIALOGUE

SOCHI, OCTOBER 1 /SRNA/ - The leadership of Republika Srpska is working to elevate problems it faces within BiH to one of the central issues in the dialogue between major powers, primarily Moscow and Washington, and there is a chance that this dialogue could produce solutions acceptable to all sides, said Republika Srpska Minister of Internal Affairs Željko Budimir.

He noted that the Americans are currently not focused on Balkan issues but expressed hope that Russia would place the Balkans and Republika Srpska, specifically its status within BiH, on the agenda of high-level talks.

"This is of great help to us. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also stated that this should be one of the key issues raised in top-level dialogue between the leaders of both countries," Budimir told RT Balkan.

He stressed that Russia has, from day one, consistently defended the Dayton Peace Agreement, and its position has remained unchanged even after three decades.

Budimir said the agreement has been so eroded that its very existence is in question, with the destruction of Dayton undermining the minimum equality and balance it once provided through consociational democracy that guaranteed equal rights to all peoples in BiH.

"Republika Srpska is currently resisting the domination of one people - the Bosniaks - over all political processes in BiH. That is why this must be one of the key issues Russia raises with all actors, especially the U.S. and European countries that participated in drafting Dayton but then worked systematically to dismantle it and impose a version of BiH that is not in line with its framework," said Budimir, adding that Russia's role has always been constructive.

He recalled that the Bosniak side in BiH tried from the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine to impose sanctions on Russia, but Republika Srpska blocked this.

"This remains our principled position toward Russia as a guarantor of Dayton and its implementation. Russia feels a duty to defend the agreement, if that is even possible, since it has been under systematic attack for 30 years. We now face a situation where the tools of dismantling it are not only in the hands of foreigners or the false high representative," Budimir stated.

He explained that through the actions of the false high representative, a legal framework was created in which unconstitutional BiH institutions, such as the Court and Prosecutor's Office, can dismantle Dayton and impose the will of one people over others, as seen in the verdict against Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik.

"We are in a serious political and constitutional crisis, and I hope that Russia, through its chairmanship of the UN Security Council, will succeed in putting this issue on the table, internationalizing it, and ensuring serious steps toward a solution," Budimir stressed.

He added that a unilateral approach toward BiH has existed since the Biden administration and continues in Brussels and certain European capitals.

"Countries such as the UK and Germany see unitarization and centralization as the only model for BiH. But that is a path of no return that cannot bring stability or prosperity to any of the peoples of BiH," Budimir concluded.