Milorad Dodik, president of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity Republika Srpska, said that he submitted a proposal for an agreement on special ties to the president of the Parliament of Montenegro and the leader of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD), Andrija Mandić, while the head of the parliament said that he would open a dialogue with representatives of the government and the opposition. on that matter.
Dodik, at the joint press conference after the meeting with Mandić in the Parliament, said that through the Dayton Agreement, the RS has the right to special relations with its neighbors and that is why they want to establish an agreement with Montenegro.
"We believe that there is no reason for Montenegro not to accept it. The agreement was delivered to President Mandić. It is nothing against BiH, but this is an agreement in the areas of enforcement, infrastructure, sports, education, science and culture - everything that represents normal communication between communities, states and peoples," explained Dodik.
"It will bother some in Sarajevo, but it is legal and provided for by the Constitution of BiH and the Dayton Agreement. This was offered to Montenegro before," Dodik believes, adding that they also discussed "some other problems".
Mandic said that the agreement on special relations presented today is in accordance with the Dayton Agreement. "And in 95, when the war ended and the agreement was signed, the FRY existed. The fact that Serbia is the successor of the FRY, but Montenegro had equal obligations. This is late. The former government refused this," said Mandić.
He said that he will open a dialogue with representatives of the government and the opposition to that agreement.
"The RS wants to build relations with Montenegro, which wants to have good relations with the RS. This is not to the detriment of any citizen. These three projects benefit the budget and all the citizens of Montenegro. We will also talk with Albania about Bojana, Skadar Lake , with Serbia about Lim," added Mandic.
Mandić: We want the best relations with our neighbors
He said that Montenegro wants to create the best relations with its neighbors. "If you don't have a keen sense of their needs as well, then there's something wrong with you."
He said that it was a great honor for him to receive Dodik.
"In addition to being the president of the Assembly, I am the president of the New Serbian Democracy. The New Serbian Democracy and the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) are sister parties. These are primarily Serbian parties - the Serbian people of the RS support them, and the Montenegrin people support us," said Mandić.
"Whoever respects Dayton also respects the RS. Whoever respects BiH cannot do without respecting the RS, and whoever respects equality, both Serbs and Bosniaks have the same rights. We respect the RS, because we respect Bosnia and Herzegovina. That is the decision of the great powers, that is what Dayton brought. Montenegro respects Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro respects RS, which created Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. That is why today I conveyed these messages of peace and support to Dodik," added Mandić.
He said that today they talked about the economy, the "Buk Bijela" hydroelectric plant, about Lake Bilećko...
"As Bosnia and Herzegovina supported Montenegro's path to the EU, the first entity that meets us on the western road is the RS and Bosnia and Herzegovina," the President of the Assembly pointed out.
He said that he is ready to talk to all politicians in the region in the same way as he talks to Dodik.
Dodik said that as president of the RS, he is here to support the peace, stability and development of Montenegro and its commitment to membership in the European Union. "To RS, we are committed to the EU, and as Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are candidates," he pointed out.
"We expect that through some reforms we will reach the status of observer. The European path cannot be at the expense of identity and cannot propagate a unified BiH. BiH can follow the example of Belgium and enter BiH," said Dodik.
He reminded that Bosnia and Herzegovina is made up of two entities and three constituent nations and said that they do not support a unitary BiH, but also that "what the so-called high representatives did was violence".
"The RS is against the entry of NATO. We respect the will of Montenegro, but we also ask that our position be supported. NATO bombed the RS, Serbia and Montenegro without a decision of the Security Council," said Dodik.
He said that they respect the right of Montenegro to decide on all issues.
Dodik also said that he came to support Mandić
"I wish everyone - Albanians, Bosniaks, Montenegrins all the best. But my position requires that I support Serbs wherever they are. Just as we respect the Montenegrin community in the RS, had members of that community in power. We expect the Serbian nation in Montenegro to do the same. be represented. I believe that a more accepting society can be built, so that they are not discriminated against when it comes to employment," said Dodik.
He says that the previous government in Montenegro recognized Kosovo "at the expense of the will of the Serbs".
"Our efforts are aimed at maintaining peace, respecting all communities. We consider the development of economic relations with Montenegro very important. These days in Banja Luka we will sign a contract with a Chinese company on the reconstruction of the road Foča - Šćepan polje. This is done by the RS, not BiH." , said the president of RS.
"If you use Bosnia and Herzegovina to disparage the RS, as Đukanović did," he adds, "the Serbian community made it impossible."
"Through Mandić, we are developing the best relations with Montenegro," he said.
"We offer Montenegro to join the mega project, let them not block us if they don't want to"
Dodik said that a meeting of people who decide on the Bileć Lake issue will be held in Trebinje.
"We respect realistic demands, we rejected unrealistic ones. The RS cannot ignore certain things," said Dodik and assessed that the earlier Montenegrin demands were not realistic because they were about something that was built five decades ago, and Montenegro did not participate in it. .
He also spoke about the "Buk Bijela" project.
"Because of Montenegro, we reduced it, that smaller one does not sink water in Montenegro. We want to continue the project in cooperation with Serbia. Some bodies from Montenegro, in cooperation with Europe, are trying to prevent it. If the project of the big 'Buk Bijela' is returned, I will be in favor of that. We offer Montenegro to join the mega project. If they don't want to, let them not block us. We believe that what comes as an obstacle from Montenegro is motivated by policies from Sarajevo," said the President of the RS.
Dodik said that he mentioned to Mandić that he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin a few days ago.
Dodik, when asked by journalists how he comments on the government in Montenegro, said that he respects the democratically elected government, but that he is waiting for an answer when it comes to projects.
Dodik: "Serbian world" is a phenomenal idea
The "Serbian world" project is, he believes, a "phenomenal idea".
He says that no one should have anything against "Serbs organizing themselves, expressing themselves, building schools, going to church..."
He pointed out that these things should not offend anyone.
"I invite all people of Serbian nationality, wherever they are, to devote themselves to the elements of our national identity. This identity is not directed against anyone - neither Montenegrins, nor Croats... We have the right to express our peculiarities, just like the French, Germans and all nations," he stated.
Mandić: The crime in Štrpci is one of the most disgusting
Mandić was asked that today's meeting was not announced on the Parliament's website, and Dodik to comment on the fact that today's meeting is on the 31st anniversary of the crime in Štrpci.
Mandic said that it had nothing to do with Štrpci and that they did not know that it coincided. "We condemn every crime, especially in Štrpci. It is one of the most disgusting crimes," he said.
Dodik said that the perpetrators who were not brought to justice should be prosecuted and said that he did not want to provoke.
"It was an opportunity for them to express their position as people, and it is proof of Montenegro's democracy. I had a problem with the noise and insulting expressions they directed at me, and that's why I greeted them like that," said Dodik, referring to what happened when entering in the Assembly building greeted the demonstrators with three raised fingers.
Mandic said that today's meeting is about the future, not the past.
He said that citizens have been traveling on a bad road for years and that the RS wants to build that road so that everyone going to Foča, Banja Luka, and Sarajevo has a decent section.
"It was not finished either in Tito's Yugoslavia or in the FRY, and we know how important it is. We thank Dodik because it is not cheap," adds Mandić.
He also says that the "Buk Bijela" project is also important for the citizens of Montenegro.
"The subject of Bileć Lake and its use for Boka are only potentials that will bring benefits. I want us to think for the benefit of the citizens of BiH, RS, Montenegro..."
Mandić said that in this way they are promoting "the idea of peace, stability and the idea of cooperation with neighbors, but also that they will gladly receive representatives of the FBiH, if they request it.
"Vujanović and Đukanović used to come to Banjaluka, then suddenly stopped"
When asked why he did not meet with other officials, Dodik said that he respects the elections in Montenegro, but that he has the right to his views.
"I don't want to avoid anything that is in favor of Montenegro and Republika Srpska. I met with President Mandić and we agreed on everything that was foreseen. The day is challenging for me, because at three o'clock I have a meeting in Mostar with the other ruling parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I have not met with the President of Montenegro and the Prime Minister, but if they express a desire to meet, I will not shy away from it. Both Vujanović and Đukanović used to come to Banjaluka, but they suddenly stopped and started going only to Sarajevo ", he added and pointed out that many of the projects are not done by Sarajevo.
As he said, he is not Escobar who "comes here to say what he can and cannot do".
Dodik's son Igor, the organizational secretary of the SNSD, said earlier this month that he had a very fair relationship with the Montenegrin prime minister and leader of the Europe Now Movement, Milojko Spajić, whom he accused of having "lost his identity" and "helped him build the party infrastructure in Montenegro".
When asked how his son helped Spajić, Dodik said - ask him.
A group of citizens gathered earlier at the Assembly building as a sign of protest against the arrival of Dodik, who greeted the demonstrators with three raised fingers.
Mandić greeted him with: "Welcome, President of the Republic of Srpska."
Demonstrators chant: "Fascists".
The media was informed yesterday by Dodik's cabinet that he will meet with Mandić today, stating that he will be on a working visit to Montenegro today and that he will meet with Mandić at 12.30:XNUMX in the parliament.
"Vijesti" announced this morning that the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić have no official information about Dodik's visit to Montenegro, nor have they been officially asked to meet with him.
This was confirmed to the list by the President's Public Relations Office and unofficially by the Prime Minister's Office.
Yesterday, the Assembly did not answer the questions of "Vijesti" whether Mandić had invited Dodik to visit, whether he would be welcomed with state honors, or what the topics of the conversation would be.
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