Milorad Dodik
The question of the annexation of Crimea to Russia is solved the will of the people, which must be respected. This was stated by the President of the Republic of Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik in an interview with “Izvestia” published on Monday, March 6.
“Crimea went to Russia on the referendum and the will of the people must be respected. The Crimean issue is resolved,” said Dodik. He accused the West of double standards, noting that he did not recognize the results of the voting in the Crimea, but at the same time considered the solution of the political elite in Kosovo, where the referendum was not.
The President of Republika Srpska also expressed the view that many European countries support the lifting of sanctions against Russia, “these sentiments are only growing”. “They tried to economically weaken Russia, but they suffered serious economic losses. In Brussels stated that it will punish Moscow and Russia stopped buying goods from the EU and started to develop its own economy, thereby only getting stronger. Russia has not lost anything. Therefore, the lifting of sanctions in the interests of Europe,” he added.
While Dodik said that the Western countries are afraid of strengthening of Russia. “Moscow is afraid, and many are not satisfied that Russia under Vladimir Putin returned to the position in the international arena. Therefore, the West retains the rhetoric of the cold war”, — concluded the politician.
The Republika Srpska was one of the parties to the civil war in the former Federal Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), which was part of Yugoslavia. RS remained the self-proclaimed and unrecognized until November 1995, when under pressure from NATO and the UN was signed the Dayton agreement created a common signs of having both Federal and Confederate, the state Bosnia and Herzegovina consisting of two entities — Republika Srpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Adopted February 22, 2008 resolution of the Parliament of the Republic of Srpska said that the Bosnian Serbs may secede from Bosnia and Herzegovina if the majority of the member countries of the UN and the EU States recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Crimea became part of Russia in March 2014 after a referendum in which a majority of residents entitled to vote supported the decision. In Kiev refused to recognize the results of the plebiscite. Moscow, in turn, indicates compliance with the procedures for the reunification of the Russian Federation with the Peninsula international law. Also, the Russian authorities have repeatedly stressed that the question of supplies of Crimea is closed forever.