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SARAJEVO, December 2 (FENA) - President of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) Bakir Izetbegović spoke for BBC World News about the causes of the current crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
When asked about Milorad Dodik's intentions, Izetbegović said that the president of the SNSD was testing the waters on how far he could go.
"If he could, he would secede the RS entity. If he cannot and he cannot do it, then he will try to restore the competencies that were transferred to the state level 15 years ago, when we founded the Armed Forces, the intelligence service, the taxation system and the state-level judiciary. He would now like to return to those positions and make the country divided again," said Izetbegović.
If he fails to do so, Izetbegović added, Dodik will try to gain something from the current situation in order to present himself as someone who fights for the interests of the entity and the interests of the Serb people, and based on that win the next General Elections.
Speaking about the possibility of new conflicts in BiH, Izetbegović said that this could never be dismissed with full certainty.
"That should not happen because people, including Serbs, are fed up with tensions, crises, wars and conflicts. Ordinary people are fed up with it. Nobody would want to go in that direction, but you can never know in BiH," said Izetbegović.
In a situation where someone is attacking you, the president of the SDA explained, it is not possible to say that those who attack and those who defend themselves are equally responsible.
"Dodik creates problems on a daily basis. He has done a lot of bad things in the last 15 years. He forced us to fight back and I will do everything to make this fight political, not a real conflict," said Izetbegović.
He added that a state of apartheid was being carried out in the RS entity and that Bosniaks and Croats in that Bosnian entity were second-class citizens.
"When someone decorates Radovan Karadžić, you can imagine what a provocation it is, and Dodik did just that. This crisis began when the High Representative banned the glorification of war criminals and the denial of genocide. Is there any of my responsibility or the responsibility of the High Representative for the crisis? I would say no," said Izetbegović.
Izetbegović pointed out that the number of members of the international forces stationed in BiH, if necessary, could be increased. When asked about the role of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the events in BiH, Izetbegović said that it is difficult to define it precisely.
"In BiH and in the Balkans, Russia is fighting against the presence of NATO. They do not want BiH to become part of NATO. That is their main goal and they want to have their influence," said the president of the SDA.
When it comes to the US sanctions against Milorad Dodik, Izetbegović emphasized that they are not enough and that something more must be done.
"Something much more effective and painful against those who create problems should be done. We expect the United States to do that. They are able to do it. The European Union is confused and it is not easy for them because they need consensus, but the Americans can and should do it," Izetbegović concluded.
(FENA) S. R.
