Dodik: It Is Republika Srpska's Sacred Task to Leave Bosnia and Herzegovina

Banjaluka (Photo: PrintScreen YouTube)

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik has said that he will never accept an anti-constitutional and anti-Daytonian Bosnia and Herzegovina and that it is the "sacred task" of the entity he leads to leave that country.

"I believe that I must get [Republika] Srpska out of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because its staying in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Europeans like these means that in 20 years there will be neither Srpska nor Serbs in these parts or only a few sycophants will remain," Dodik said in an interview with the Radio-Television of Republika Srpska.

Dodik further said that the Republika Srpska authorities would over the next few months "think hard" about whether they would continue moving down the European path, which he said "has not given anything" to that entity. "We have nothing but problems because of Europe. When we join the EU, that means there is no Republika Srpska. Is that the price this people wants to pay? Let it pay. I won't. As long as I'm leading this, it will not happen," Dodik said ahead of a celebration of Republika Srpska Day, Jan. 9.

According to him, Balkan countries should not go into the EU because the Union "will have failed by the time Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes a member." He added that he expected "pressure to subside" with the arrival of a new U.S. administration on Jan. 20 and that "the policy on everyone, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be more conciliatory."