prijava
BANJA LUKA, September 21 (FENA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today in Banja Luka that the Russian Federation is strongly committed to respecting the Dayton Peace Agreement, opposes its revision, and has nothing against the aspirations of the Balkan states, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the membership in the European Union, but also to developing of ties with the states they deem to be in their interest.
After the meeting with the entity president Milorad Dodik and other RS officials, Lavrov said that Russia has not tried to change the Dayton Agreement, nor, as he added, it has tried to preserve the elements of the protectorate over BiH, but in all of the international institutions, it fights to preserve the basic principles of the DPA.
"BiH, in accordance with the Dayton Agreement, is recognized as an independent and sovereign state, said Lavrov, adding that he considers it unacceptable that "the West appoints a High Representative in BiH who can abolish any decisions reached in a direct agreement between the three peoples".
He reiterated that such changes to the Dayton Agreement are possible only with the consent of both BiH entities and the three peoples.
"We constantly see Dodik's commitment to the Dayton PA. We deem unacceptable the actions of foreign factors who are trying to force the people in the Balkans to a falsely imposed choice, "either you are with us or with the Russian Federation" said Lavrov.
He also added that Russia wants to remain in a Council of Europe where all countries are equal and none can be disenfranchised.
He said he had useful meetings today in Sarajevo, as well as in Banja Luka.
Responding to a question about "Russian influence in the Balkans," he said that Russia is not saying anything that could be considered as meddling in the affairs in Macedonia, whereas many European and US officials "are biased when it comes to the issue of the referendum in that country."
Dodik today awarded Sergey Lavrov with the medal of Republika Srpska.
(FENA) S. R.
