Press conference of the President of the Republic of Srpska and the Serb member and Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency

The President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik and the Serb member and Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović held a press conference today in the Palace of the Republic.

The President of the Republic of Srpska stated that Srpska is not financially threatened, that it finances all its obligations, and that the indebtedness is below the standard prescribed by the EU.

The President of the Republic noted that Srpska, while building highways and implemented other projects, acquired international financial resources, adding that until 2007 it was excluded from donor and international credit funds.

„Foreigners did not give it, that is why they gave everything to the Federation of BiH. Of the four and a half billion in donations that were given here, more than three and a half billion were given to FBiH, and to the Republic of Srpska was given only something that had to be given. The majority of municipalities in Srpska were declared a black hole or a dot, so they could not participate in the financing”, said the President Dodik.

The President of Srpska stated that today the budget of Srpska amounts to BAM 5.4 billion, and that during the time when he held the Office of the Prime Minister of the Government of Srpska, it was BAM 280 million.

“In the meantime, a lot has been built in the Republic of Srpska. Almost all hospital facilities in Srpska have been completed and we are starting the construction of a new hospital in Trebinje”, it was added by the President of the Republic and confirmed that the reconstruction and construction of health centres will be continued.

The President Dodik pointed out that the Republic of Srpska has built 120 kilometers of highway, renovated schools, rehabilitated the Olympic Centre, and raised the importance of every city in Srpska.

“The Republic of Srpska is capable and ready to fulfill all its obligations and it will do so. Srpska has significant indebtedness below the standards prescribed by Europe, which is 60 percent of the domestic product. I said that the public debt is 34 percent, and the total debt is 41 percent”, it was specified by the President of Srpska.

The President of the Republic noted that the Republic of Srpska increased pensions, salaries and social benefits.  

In addition, the President Dodik said that Srpska is moving with the potential it has, as well as that it has the lowest rate of indebtedness ever.

“It is now 31 or 32 percent, as far as the public debt is concerned, and as far as the total debt is concerned, it is about 41 percent. Srpska has the lowest percentage of public debt in the region, is not over-indebted and has a stable credit rating of B++, which allows us to appear on some financial markets for our programmes and financial needs”, said the President of the Republic.

The President of Srpska emphasized that with the Serb member and Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović, with the conference in Banja Luka expresses state and political unity on issues important to the Republic of Srpska.

The President of the Republic of Srpska stated that Srpska did not allow the BiH authorities to make a decision on the introduction of sanctions against Russia.

“Srpska is the one that did not allow a decision to be made on the recognition of Kosovo, just as it did not allow any decision to be made anywhere in BiH, in the bodies provided for that, on the introduction of sanctions against Russia at this time”, it was repeated by the President Dodik.

The President of the Republic stated that Srpska does not want to join the NATO alliance and will suspend all cooperation activities with that alliance.

“From the Deputy Minister in the Council of Ministers and ministers in the Government of Srpska to all operatives on those issues, including the commission with a number of Serbs appointed by the Council of Ministers. In this regard, we will stop working”, said the President of Srpska.

The President Dodik pointed out that the Republic of Srpska does not want to align itself with any side.

“We want to be the subject that decides on our matters here. I do not decide on things about Great Britain and America, and I do not want them to decide here either”, added the President of the Republic.

The Serb member and the Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović announced that all pregnant women in the Republic of Srpska could have an access to prenatal tests already at the beginning of summer, because the initiative is in its final phase.

The Serb member of the BiH Presidency stated that from the original idea that pregnant women over the age of 35 and those with certain indications could be tested, the idea came to make prenatal tests available to all pregnant women, regardless of age and indications.

“We have reached the stage when a public call can be announced for the selection of a reference institution that would do the tests, and the samples will be taken at the University Clinical Centre of Srpska”, it was confirmed by the Chairman of the BiH Presidency.