Bosnian Serb leader advocates same rights for RS that Kosovo has

“If someone's right to do so is accepted, we believe we could refer to that and we will refer to that right,” Dodik told Serbia's public broadcaster RTS.

Bosnia consists of two semi-autonomous regions, Republika Srpska where the Serbs are the majority and the Federation (FBiH), shared by the Bosniaks and the Croats. The three ethnic groups are entitled to equal rights in terms of the power-sharing at the state level, where they also represent the entities they come from.

Milorad Dodik is the leader of the strongest SNSD party in Republika Srpska, having acted as its prime minister and president in the previous terms. In the 2018 October election, he ran for the state's tripartite Presidency and won with a significant majority.

The Serb leader is known for advocating the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia, often adding the entity would eventually merge with Serbia.

Speaking for Serbian media, Dodik said that the moment Kosovo declared its independence (in 2008), the RS entity parliament had decided that once Kosovo is admitted to the United Nations this would mean the RS has right to secede.

According to him, Bosnian Croats will not miss an opportunity to secede either, while the Bosniaks will understand this is the best option for them too.

The authorities and opposition in the Serb-majority entity will also consider independence if the Republika Srpska's name is challenged before the Constitutional Court, he said.

The Bosniak's strongest SDA party announced this initiative last month, arguing that the Republika Srpska's name discriminates other ethnic groups living on its territory. This sparked fierce reactions among the Serb leadership who said the initiative was anti-constitutional.

“We will call a referendum and secede from Bosnia,” Dodik was quoted as saying. He added that the RS would have the support of at least ten countries in that.