The President of the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, told the Belgrade-based Blic daily of Thursday that the RS had agreed to postpone a referendum challenging the existence of Bosnia's State Court and Office of the Prosecutor as a sign of good will, and that it was eagerly awaiting Friday's decision by the High Representative to Bosnia, Valentin Inzko, on the RS referendum plan.
Dodik said that the Serb entity had prepared an exit strategy regardless of what Inzko might decide regarding the referendum.
"Meanwhile, talks have started with Brussels. We have agreed, as a sign of good will, to postpone the referendum in an effort to open a dialogue on four issues we insist on," said Dodik.
The entity government wants existing state-level legislation to be amended and the referendum plan has put that topic on the agenda, according to Dodik.
"If in talks with European officials we succeed in having an important, senior EU official say that our demands are justified and correct, the reason for holding the referendum will cease to exist because its purpose is to get to a solution," Dodik said.
Asked if the RS would make more radical moves if Inzko annulled the RS parliament's decision to hold the referendum, Dodik said that attempts by the High Representative and the international community to abolish the entity parliament's decision on the referendum would prompt the RS to reconsider its conduct in state-level government formation and in many other areas.
"(If that happens), any future step in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be made conditional on our referendum demand, and we will raise many other issues as well."
Asked if he expected Inzko to radicalise the problem and to replace him, Dodik said that in that case he would ask citizens to state their position on the matter, adding, "I wasn't elected by Inzko, nor did I pledge allegiance to him."
