Republika Srpska - new constitution - Dodik
04/17/2025
20:26
BANJA LUKA, APRIL 17 /SRNA/ - The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik says he agrees, if such a decision is made, that the new constitution of Srpska be decided in a binding referendum.
Dodik has pointed out that it is not a constitution that will be amended every year, but will last and prove the durability of Republika Srpska.
He has stated that during the public debates many requests were made for it to be a people's document and that he agrees with that, if that is the decision of the commission and the political leadership.
"We are ready to support the idea of holding a referendum, but it would have to be binding. It is not just a game that should show the general determination, but that it should be a people’s decision that will be confirmed by the National Assembly," Dodik told the press in Banja Luka before the beginning of the final debate on the draft new constitution.
He stated that his idea was for the referendum to take place on January 9 and thus establish that date.
"I think the most important thing is that it is done with quality, that all social, political, national groups, professional organisations are included and that everyone sees that they are part of the constitution, regardless of whether they are in that act," said Dodik.
He expressed the hope that the solutions and decisions they would be making would have only one goal - to reinforced the strength of that document.
He called on the Bosniaks and Croats to participate in the debate because he does not want them to be excluded, but wants to offer the best possible standards for the constituent peoples, as well as political minorities.
Dodik has noted there are few nations in the world that have the right to pass such important documents as the constitution.
"I think the idea of the debate and adoption of the constitution is for Republika Srpska to return to itself, to the original Dayton letter. We have no intention of making other documents than those that correspond to the Dayton letter and that have indispensable European values," said Dodik.
He pointed to the fact that we were never satisfied with the provisions in the Constitution amended by the high representatives; now the Serb people is regaining dignity.
"There are few people in Republika Srpska who are not aware of what this is all about. We are doing serious work, which has the ambition to last," Dodik pointed out and thanked everyone who participated in this work.