Post by vinjak on Feb 20, 2008 17:12:58 GMT -5
BANJA LUKA -- Milorad Dodik says the Republic of Srpska will call an independence referendum if its status is challenged in any way.
The RS prime minister, however, said that Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence at this point does not challenge Bosnian Serb entity's status, and added that the "RS independence in this way actually strengthened".
“Every violation of the legality and authority of the Republic of Srpska needs to be checked by way of referendum,” Dodik said.
“This referendum should be the measure that will be used when it is most important and most necessary. I mentioned it when they began to doubt the importance of the Republic of Srpska,” Dodik said.
Asked whether it is true that the RS parliament will adopt a declaration tomorrow calling for the right to proclaim independence if more than half of the UN Security Council member-countries recognize Kosovo, Dodik said that “no such official document exists", adding that it was "at this stage drafted by the parliamentary bodies.”
He said that although “he is not without emotions, to want a lot of things immediately,", ome things are "not realistic and many must be worked on slowly, calmly and intelligently.”
“Rushed moves will do more damage than good,” Dodik said.
He added that the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo has created a "new realistic practice and realistic laws", and that the Republic of Srpska “has many arguments for the road to building, step by step, a stable, strong and powerful community of satisfied and happy citizens.”
“Even the other nationalities in the Republic of Srpska realize that it is a lasting community, in which they can build a future, regardless of whether it will be a part of Bosnia-Herzegovina or take another path for itself,” Dodik said.
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The RS prime minister, however, said that Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence at this point does not challenge Bosnian Serb entity's status, and added that the "RS independence in this way actually strengthened".
“Every violation of the legality and authority of the Republic of Srpska needs to be checked by way of referendum,” Dodik said.
“This referendum should be the measure that will be used when it is most important and most necessary. I mentioned it when they began to doubt the importance of the Republic of Srpska,” Dodik said.
Asked whether it is true that the RS parliament will adopt a declaration tomorrow calling for the right to proclaim independence if more than half of the UN Security Council member-countries recognize Kosovo, Dodik said that “no such official document exists", adding that it was "at this stage drafted by the parliamentary bodies.”
He said that although “he is not without emotions, to want a lot of things immediately,", ome things are "not realistic and many must be worked on slowly, calmly and intelligently.”
“Rushed moves will do more damage than good,” Dodik said.
He added that the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo has created a "new realistic practice and realistic laws", and that the Republic of Srpska “has many arguments for the road to building, step by step, a stable, strong and powerful community of satisfied and happy citizens.”
“Even the other nationalities in the Republic of Srpska realize that it is a lasting community, in which they can build a future, regardless of whether it will be a part of Bosnia-Herzegovina or take another path for itself,” Dodik said.
B92