'Murphy: Before MS, the worst is coming'

American Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Michael Murphy gave an extensive commentary on Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik's proposal to unify RS, Serbia and Montenegro. Murphy emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to BiH, its territorial integrity, sovereignty and multi-ethnic character.

He noted that US policy is not against Serbs, Bosniaks or Croats, but is strongly and explicitly pro-BiH. Murphy also condemned Dodik's statements that call for the violation of state borders in the Western Balkans in order to create a unified Serbian state, noting that such statements not only destabilize BiH, but also threaten the security and stability of the region.

He also''emphasized that Dodik is blocking the government, threatening peace and trying to blackmail or intimidate other political leaders in the country, as well as the international community, instead of engaging in negotiations and reaching the necessary compromises to adopt the reforms needed to bring citizens closer to the European Union.

He also pointed out that Dodik is working to limit the basic rights and freedoms of RS residents, such as media freedom, freedom of speech and assembly, in order to protect himself from criticism and accountability. Murphy also pointed to a number of examples that show the failures of Dodik and the harm of his policies.

He also noted that the RS budget is in deficit and in the first nine months of 2023, the RS government borrowed about 569 million KM on the domestic market at record high interest rates. He also noted that Dodik and his government were forced to postpone the payment of public sector salaries and social benefits due to lack of funds.

Murphy emphasized that Dodik created his own problems and that the legal proceedings against him are not the result of a conspiracy, but are the result of his long destructive activities. He noted that Dodik had created his own legal problems, not an international conspiracy, and that he had been victimized by his''bad decisions and selfish actions.

Murphy also noted that citizens of BiH want to live in a country where political leaders and state institutions work transparently for them, where a person's opportunity to work and prosper does not depend on who they know, but on their own talents, and where the rule of law is the foundation of society. He emphasized that BiH citizens want to enjoy a stable and prosperous future in Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Murphy concluded that the U.S. will not stand by while Dodik and his political allies try to destroy the fabric of BiH, destabilize the country and the region, and impede BiH's progress toward the EU.