Opposition leader in Republika Srpska wants dialogue, not crisis

Opposition parties in the Republika Srpska entity will not follow Milorad Dodik’s political ideas because they consider he is undermining peace in all of BiH, opposition leader Mirko Šarović said after a meeting with US special envoy Gabriel Escobar.

Šarović underscored that Dodik is trying to exploit the current crisis in the country to strengthen his powers.

The opposition believes that outstanding issues need to be resolved through dialogue, as all unilateral decisions are exceptionally dangerous.

Escobar, closing his visit to BiH, admitted that sanctions are at the table. “I do not want to talk about how the Republika Srpska will be sanctioned, because the people in this region have suffered enough,” he said.

Sanctions against politicians are a realistic option.

“These sanctions apply to individuals, and leaders must be personally responsible. And not only sanctions, there are other economic means that can be implemented not only against leaders carrying out anti-Dayton activities but also against those who give them support, against companies that help them,” announced Escobar.

Serb member of BiH’s tripartite Presidency, Milorad Dodik, met with Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in Ankara. Dodik told the media ahead of the meeting that “the information that Erdoğan has received so far has been one-sided.”

(Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr)