In an interview this week, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik said that he would not oppose BiH membership in NATO if the citizens of RS were to decide that membership is in their interest. In order for that to happen, Mr. Dodik said, NATO would have to prove its value.
“NATO has the opportunity to convince us it is a good alliance for Serbs. Let NATO open a few defense industry factories, give jobs to Serbs, and Serbs may change their minds,” he told the Belgrade-based weekly NIN.
“But – how is one to explain that all defense industry factories have been shut down in the RS under pressure from the international factor, while in the other part of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the Federation (FBiH, the Muslim-Croat entity), there are six. NATO is not without a chance here, it’s just that I’m not ready to give my blank support. If the people say accession to that alliance should be signed, I’ll sign it,” Dodik stated.
President Dodik also responded to accusations of corruption from High Representative Valentin Inzko, and defended his government’s relationship with Russia.
