SRPSKA HAS CREDIBLE DIPLOMATIC TEAM

BANJA LUKA, JULY 8 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska has a strong and capable diplomatic team, led by the Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Željka Cvijanović, and President Milorad Dodik, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić said.

Minić stressed that Dodik and Cvijanović have established excellent international contacts, noting that those who previously accused the Republika Srpska leadership of trading away natural resources and spending large sums on lobbying have now fallen silent.

He emphasized that diplomatic efforts have significantly improved perceptions of Republika Srpska abroad.

"We have not received any special treatment; we are simply being viewed objectively now. For the first time, we are seeing a realistic assessment, whereas previously the prevailing perception was that we were always to blame. The moment our colleagues and friends in the Federation of BiH recognize that reality, things will become much easier. Politicians in Sarajevo will never accept it, because they see it as a defeat, while they consider it a victory whenever they succeed in imposing narratives portraying us negatively," Minić told RTRS.

He added that this shift is already evident in practice, as US companies are now offering cooperation on certain projects.

Speaking about BiH, Minić said normal life in the country would be possible only when compromise became the basis for agreements between Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, as well as among the three constituent peoples.

"They believed that by bringing down President Dodik they would achieve their goal. Now they have realized not only that they have failed, but that they are trapped in a tunnel with no light in sight," Minić pointed out.

He reiterated that the existence of an external overseer acting in the interests of one people to the detriment of the other two was not beneficial.

Commenting on legislation aimed at banning symbols from past conflicts that offend peoples in BiH, Minić said such a civilizational legal solution is currently in the legislative procedure.

"No one is questioning the flag of BiH. We are talking about the wartime flag that some people find offensive. Imagine if I took ten Republika Srpska flags and drove through Zenica with them. I would advise anyone not to do that, because it would be a provocation," Minić stressed.

He added that the proposed legislation would also apply to Ustasha and Nazi symbols.