BELGRADE, February 12. /TASS/. Serbs’ joining the anti-Russian sanctions or condemning the Russian authorities would only put an end to the friendship with Russians but would grant no privileges from the West, Milorad Dodik, President of the Republic of Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said on Sunday.
"They don't miss an opportunity to ask for sanctions, as well as to draw us in, to take a bad step toward Russia or [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, because they think it is bad. I think that the West is basically with its arrogant policy, in which it has never accepted and realistically considered Russia's demands not to approach its borders," he said in an interview with the Kosovo online news portal. Now, according to Dodik, the Western countries consider Putin as a source of all their problems.
"If we were to say that we condemn Russia, and Putin, adhere to sanctions, and introduce visas for Russians in Bosnia and Herzegovina, does anyone think that we would get anything from the West? And we would permanently lose friends who proved to be our only support in history. This is our answer to our friends and for investing in the future, because we cannot expect anything from the West," he stressed.
He noted that the West is pursuing such policy because it is not interested in a strong Russia. "It suits them that Russia is unsettled, not Putin, who united and strengthened Russia," Dodik said. "Suddenly it appears that Putin has stronger weapons than the West, so there is panic in the West."
"Europe is losing its position," he added.