Eurasia Press & News
Republic of Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik said that a referendum will be held in the first half of 2010 on support for the Dayton Agreement.
He said that the RS government is working on a referendum law for asking the people of the entity “do you support the Dayton Agreement and do you oppose the High Representative imposing decisions?”
“We have entered a phase of drafting a law, and in the second half of January, we will propose a referendum law to the parliament that will be harmonized with the times. RS will hold a referendum in the first half of the year,” Dodik said.
Asked whether “a general impression exists that it is an introduction into a plebiscite for RS remaining in Bosnia-Herzegovina,” he said that it is “certain” that this secures the normative conditions and all mechanisms for “the RS to one day, if needed, organize a status referendum.”
“We have to fight for our legitimate rights. A referendum on whether the people want to live within or outside of Bosnia will surely come,” he told the daily.
Dodik said that he is ready for “all adventures” if Bosnia-Herzegovina International High Representative Valentin Inzko tries to remove him from his position.
“What if I do not accept the decision? If the government and parliament do not accept it? What will they do? Bring in tanks to prohibit me from entering the government building? I don’t even have to enter the building. I can call a meeting in a private home and say that they are occupiers. Status is a difficult question, and it is dealt with slowly. But, with pride. I am proud of the fact that we will hold a referendum,” Dodik said.
