Vučić: A difficult day for the entire Serbian people; Serbia will do its best to help preserve peace

Aleksandar Vučić began his speech by emphasizing that today is a difficult day for Republika Srpska and Serbia.

"Today, a first-instance verdict was handed down in a strange and senseless proceeding against the president of Republika Srpska, for something we thought would never be able to exist," said Vučić.

He said that it is not easy for Dodik and his family, but that the verdict is directed against the Republika Srpska and the Serbian people as a whole.

"I came here to support our people, to tell them that Serbia is with them, but also to support Milorad Dodik, while not endangering anyone," explained Vučić.

"I took care of every word in the previous 13 years, I always made sure to emphasize the necessity of preserving the Dayton Agreement, the integrity of BiH and everything else. I was always retaliated in the worst possible way, from physical lynching to the most brutal lies and insults that I had to endure all these years," explained Vučić.

"I came to President Dodik with two requests. I conveyed to him the conclusions of the session of our Security Council, and we will hold a session of the Assembly which Dodik will also attend."

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"The two things I asked are the following: The first is to invite all political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as foreign ones, to talks, to start a dialogue, in order to show the Serbian commitment to peace. The second thing, I asked Mr. Dodik and Stanivuković tonight for unity, at least in key issues. I know that there will never be complete unity, but for issues related to the survival of Srpska, that is important," said Vučić.

"Serbia will always do its best to help preserve peace, and to beg Dodik and our people for dialogue, but also, Serbia will always be with the Republika Srpska, with the institution of the president of the Republika Srpska, and if this was the reason for sentencing Dodik for the destruction of the people, then kudos to you," said Vučić.

After Vučić, Milorad Dodik addressed the public.

"First of all, I would like to thank Vučić and Serbia for their support. I am aware of the peace-making role that Serbia plays, and I am very glad that we will have a session of the National Assembly of Serbia, where the Republika Srpska will have the opportunity to express its view of the Dayton Agreement," Dodik said.