The formation of the government of Milorad Dodik in Republika Srpska is also discussed by Drazena Peranic in the January 25, 1998 issue of the Sarajevo weekly 'Svijet'.

Dodiks political appearance and political option which he promoted much before the signing of the signing Dayton agreement, have been taken as exotic politics in the surroundings of SDS tyranny, with, supposedly, questionable outlook for the future, or first clear sign of untenability of nationalistic regimes in the part of the BiH where the rigidity of one party absolutism reached the highest level.

It is an undeniable fact that Dodiks estimates started to realize themselves. The first leg of the three-pinned stool SDS-HDZ-SDA and its seven year coalition is almost broken. The fact that Milorad Dodik is the most optimal solution, in difference to Biljana Plavsic or Mladen Ivanic, with the roles of a rabbit in an athletic race, on one, and negotiable push-pull compromise on the other side, are best represented in differences between Dodik and the rest of the opposition in Republika Srpska.

The first thing that cannot be denied to this 38-year old private businessman (produces furniture) is a continued political fight against Karadzic and SDS policies, and support for a peaceful solution of the conflict. Pre - war member of the BiH Parliament and a member of the Reformist party, held to his legitimacy in the war parliament of Republika Srpska, but rejected any complicity with the SDS. Irritated by the rejection of the Contact Group peace plan by Pale in 1984, he formed a parliamentarian group of independent representatives, better known as Group 7, which will become the nucleus of the future formation of the party of Independent Social Democrats, for which he is the current president.

During the war, he held a series of secret meetings with the opposition from the Federation, of course, outside the area of the BiH and the eyesight of the power holders here, while at the first public meeting in Perrugia, Italy, by the end of May 1995, together with the vice president of the Union of Social Democrats of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sejfudin Tokic, he made an initial document on The Possibilities of Establishment of Permanent Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This document soon became the basis for then formed Democrtic Alternative of the whole are of BiH. In a few words, the current prime minister of Republika Srpska, along with the partner party UBSD, promoted by his own will, the essence of the Dayton Agreement much sooner than the national leaders here were forced to sign in under the American pressure.

Such activity by Dodik, incomprehensible for that time in Republika Srpska, has been met with outrage and hysterical cries about treason of higher national interests , or more precisely, as an open declaration of political war to SDS.

With the signing of the Dayton peace agreement, the Democratic Alternative of BiH activated in Perugia gets additional space for activity. At that time Dodik has already formed his party, with the help of Socialists International and its parties in power in Western Europe, and he moved into an offensive promotion of an alternative political BiH option, on the line Banja Luka - Tuzla - Sarajevo. On this line, preparations for the formation of an Alterntive Ministerial Council, more commonly known as the shadow government. Its promotion would again cause commotion among the established national oligarchy of both entities, but at the same time, win over the much greater attention of the international community, particularly the US.

Actually, the election of Milorad Dodik for the prime minister of Republika Srpska, that is, the open support of the international representatives with his inauguration, is much further way from accidental choice of some oppositionary after the initial failure with the candidacy of Mladen Ivanic. It is more the case that the offered government of Ivanic was the last chance for Pale to show at least a minimum of co -operation in the implementation of the peace agreement and to reach some deal with their partners from the Federation. After this rejection, that is one more proof that those responsible for the war do not want, and cannot build peace, Pale were served with the ultimate and for it, most painful combination - Milorad Dodik.

This stubborn man from Bosnian Krjaina will, without any compromises, play the role of ice breaker, taking into consideration the persistence and vision which he is not lacking. This time, the international mentors obviously are playing on a card with more certainty. This even more so, since the election of Dodik for the head position in RS cannot pass by without its effects on the other entity too. The new prime minister of Republika Srpska, is not only the opposition to SDS, but to all nationalistic options in BiH. The Western support for Dodik at the same time means clead and doubtless message to the federal partners in power, SDA-HDZ.

Source: Sarajevo weekly 'Svijet', January 25, 1998