Skopje diplomatic incident: Dodik denies Bosnia’s statehood

The Genocide Research Institute of Canada (IGK) has reacted to the diplomatic scandal involving the leader of the Serb entity in Skopje, stating that the continuous denial by Milorad Dodik makes it clear that he does not serve the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but rather serves the uncivilized enterprise embodied in the Serbian nationalist campaign.

The Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia, responsible for the Ohrid Peace Agreement, Ivan Stoiljković, hosted Milorad Dodik, the President of the Serb Republic, in Skopje. On the table were the flags of the RS entity and North Macedonia, but not the flag of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is an open disrespect towards the state of BiH, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

The Genocide Research Institute of Canada says that the placement of the flag of an entity without the national flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina is support for Dodik’s separatist policy.
“The continuous denial of the state of BiH by Dodik makes it clear that he does not serve the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but rather serves the uncivilized enterprise embodied in the great nationalist anti-Bosnian campaign against the state of BiH. His immoral, inhuman, and unhuman stance towards the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina clearly speaks to his character and political options,” the statement says.

The Genocide Research Institute of Canada urges the authorities of North Macedonia to apologize to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the future to respect the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina by respecting its state symbols.

“We must respond firmly and appropriately to the uncivilized behavior towards the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We cannot remain silent about the continuous insults and humiliations towards the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its institutions, and citizens, to whom they have been exposed for a long time. The full protection of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its state symbols, territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence, statehood, and international political and legal subjectivity is a very moral and deeply right act that must be implemented immediately by all state organs, embassies, state institutions, diplomatic missions, institutions, and state officials without relying on an inert international community,” concludes the IGK statement.

In Skopje, at a celebration for Saint Sava’s day under the patronage of the Government of North Macedonia, a diplomatic incident orchestrated by Milorad Dodik took place. He sent messages denying the genocide against Bosniaks, which was established by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Dodik used his speech at the event to express anti-European views, support Russian President Vladimir Putin, and deny the genocide in Srebrenica.

The Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Serb Republic, Nenad Stevandić, also attended the event.

The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, expressed his disagreement with Dodik’s anti-NATO and anti-EU stance, stating that he did not expect such political statements at this event. “When it comes to the part of the speech that refers to anti-NATO and anti-EU, I categorically reject this and do not agree with it. Honestly, I did not expect him to misuse the space to deliver such messages. After all, it was a ceremonial academy, not a place for such political messages,” said Mickoski.