Any decision to arrest the President of the Bosnian Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik would be catastrophic for the entire region, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said, quoted by the "Danas" newspaper, BTA reports.
In an address to the nation last night, Vucic pointed out that the situation in the region is extremely difficult, with the political situation in Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina being particularly tense. In addition, he pointed out that sentences had been handed down against Milorad Dodik, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Višković and Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandić.
“We have been exposed to Sarajevo's lies, to countless lies about Serbia's interference, even in the case of the expulsion of the German Minister for European Affairs, whose visit we were not informed about“, stressed Vučić, adding that it would be “a great shame for Serbia to participate in the arrest of the President of Republika Srpska”.
Vučić's statement comes against the backdrop of a political crisis in Bosnia, after the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in February sentenced Dodik in the first instance to one year in prison and a six-year ban on political activity for failing to comply with the decisions of the High Representative of the international community in Bosnia.
On Saturday, German Minister for European Affairs Anna Lürmann accused authorities in Republika Srpska for threats against her during her visit to Banja Luka. She said that this behavior was unacceptable and linked the incident to Milorad Dodik.
“Serbia should not do the dirty work of those who want to destroy the Serbian people and Republika Srpska“, Vucic said.
At the same time, the Bosnian prosecutor's office issued an arrest warrant for Dodik, Višković and Stevandić, who are suspected of "attacking the constitutional order" after the Republika Srpska parliament passed laws banning the activities of state-run judicial and security institutions in the country.
The country is divided into two semi-autonomous parts under the Dayton Peace Agreement - Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with different governments, parliaments and institutions, but with common national bodies such as the army and judiciary.