Patriarch Porfirije meets with President Dodik: The aim of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ruling is to delegitimize the existence of the Republic of Srpska
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije, together with Their Eminences Metropolitans kyr Jefrem of Banja Luka and kyr Fotije of Zvornik-Tuzla, as well as Their Graces Bishops Sergije of Bihać-Petrovac and Vicar of Marča kyr Sava, visited Mr. Milorad Dodik, President of the Republic of Srpska, in Banja Luka today. The meeting was attended by Mr. Dodik’s closest associates, including Ms. Željka Cvijanović – Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Nenad Stevandić – President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, Mr. Radovan Višković – Prime Minister, and Mr. Željko Budimir – Minister for Scientific and Technological Development.
President Dodik informed His Holiness the Patriarch and the Hierarchs about how the institutions of the Republic of Srpska plan to respond to the legal coercion that the entity has continuously endured since 1995, when it signed the Dayton Agreement and joined the state union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that this coercion has culminated in a politically motivated and orchestrated trial before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
President Dodik stated that the leadership of the Republic of Srpska remains united and determined to defend the Dayton Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina through political and legal means, as it represents the only viable framework for coexistence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The President of the Republic expressed gratitude to Patriarch Porfirije and the Hierarchs for their understanding and support, observing that the Church plays an irreplaceable role in preserving the identity of the Serbian people in this region.
His Holiness Patriarch kyr Porfirije, along with all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed a unified stance that the obvious goal of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ruling is to annul the democratically expressed will of the Serbian people and thus delegitimize the existence of the Republic of Srpska, as well as the entire Serbian people's presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– I especially appeal to all officeholders to take responsibility for preserving peace, and I call on international military units (EUFOR) to do everything within their mandate to reduce tensions and antagonisms rather than pose a threat to any of the communities – concluded the Head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
President Dodik informed His Holiness the Patriarch and the Hierarchs about how the institutions of the Republic of Srpska plan to respond to the legal coercion that the entity has continuously endured since 1995, when it signed the Dayton Agreement and joined the state union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that this coercion has culminated in a politically motivated and orchestrated trial before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
President Dodik stated that the leadership of the Republic of Srpska remains united and determined to defend the Dayton Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina through political and legal means, as it represents the only viable framework for coexistence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The President of the Republic expressed gratitude to Patriarch Porfirije and the Hierarchs for their understanding and support, observing that the Church plays an irreplaceable role in preserving the identity of the Serbian people in this region.
His Holiness Patriarch kyr Porfirije, along with all the Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed a unified stance that the obvious goal of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ruling is to annul the democratically expressed will of the Serbian people and thus delegitimize the existence of the Republic of Srpska, as well as the entire Serbian people's presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– I especially appeal to all officeholders to take responsibility for preserving peace, and I call on international military units (EUFOR) to do everything within their mandate to reduce tensions and antagonisms rather than pose a threat to any of the communities – concluded the Head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
