President of Bosnia's Republika Srpska (RS) entity Milorad Dodik cautioned in Belgrade that this Bosnian entity “is seriously considering secession if its constitutional rights are not honored.”

“We want the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to be honored, and the Dayton Agreement, and the integrity of BiH – okay, but also the honoring of the rights undoubtedly given to the RS by the Constitution,” Dodik told a joint conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

He stressed that the “engagement by a part of the Western political community and political Sarajevo” leads to further “degrading the position of the RS.”

“We have come to a point where we can no longer delay this matter and our defense is that we are seriously considering the possibility of passing a decision on independence and secession of Republika Srpka,” he said.

Dodik added that he informed Vucic at the meeting in Belgrade about the internal problems that are “very difficult” at the level of BiH.

“The situation is difficult and burdened by the constant requests to deconstruct the constitutional position of Republika Srpska,” Dodik said.

Vucic: Serbia will support whatever constituent peoples in BiH agree on

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the Dayton Peace Agreement is “the very essence of the functioning” of BiH and Republika Srpska. He stressed that Serbia will “always support” what the three constituent peoples in BiH agree on.

“President Dodik informed me of his view of the situation and relations in BiH, with the efforts of Republika Srpska to preserve its rights and obligations from Dayton. On behalf of Serbia, I said that we consider the Dayton Peace Agreement to be the essence of the functioning of BiH and, of course, Republika Srpska,” said Vucic.

The Serbian President announced that a joint sitting of the Serbian and RS governments will be held in the coming period and that Serbia will provide “additional” financial assistance to municipalities in the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in Republika Srpska.

Vucic added that Serbia and Republika Srpska will adopt a conclusion on building two memorial centers to commemorate the Jasenovac victims, at Donja Gradina, RS, and in Belgrade.