Serbs warn Erdogan: There will be no NATO expansion
Bosnia and Herzegovina should not become a member of NATO. This was stated during a visit to Turkey by the Chairman of the BiH Presidium Milorad Dodik, the leader of the Republika Srpska, which has broad autonomy rights.
During his visit to Ankara, Dodik held talks with President Recep Erdogan. Two documents were signed: a new version of the agreement on trade cooperation between BiH and Turkey (projected volume - one billion euros), as well as a memorandum regarding the construction of the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway. The document provides for the acceleration of the construction process of the part of the road that passes through BiH.
The leaders also discussed energy, tourism, agriculture and livestock issues.
As part of the negotiations, Dodik directly announced that the future of BiH does not include NATO membership, although Erdogan supports the expansion of the alliance in the Balkans.
“I want to express my satisfaction because the Turkish President was ready to listen and appreciate our differences regarding the approach to NATO that we have in BiH,” Dodik said.
He presented to Erdogan the previously adopted parliamentary declaration of the Republika Srpska on military neutrality.
According to the decision of the National Assembly on military neutrality, the Republic does not support integration into NATO, which bombed the Serbs, but does not oppose cooperation with this alliance.
Political scientist Aleksandar Rakovic explained that the Republika Srpska, whose leader is Dodik, can influence the blocking of BiH’s entry into the alliance.
Rakovic added that Turkey has its own position to support the Bosnians, but, nevertheless, it is very important that both sides had the opportunity to express their views. The expert emphasized that Dodik was welcomed in Turkey as the Chairman of the Presidium with great respect.
Military expert Miroslav Lazanski considers it important that Turkey heard the position of the Serbian population of BiH regarding NATO expansion: “It is very important that Dodik expressed his opinion on BiH’s accession to NATO. The visit was very successful in this context,” Lazanski told SRBIN Info.
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