His Grace Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabar and Bosnia, President of Republika Srpska Mrs Biljana Plavsic and member of Bosnia-Hercegovina Presidency Mr Momcilo Krajisnik: 

"Your Grace, esteemed Mrs Plavsic and esteemed Mr Krajisnik, 

Concerned for the fate of the Serbian people in Republika Srpska, I think it is my duty to say something in public about the unhappy events, which have occurred in the conflict between Republika Srpska leading personalities. I follow very closely the developments and I believe that the eruption of this crisis can have disastrous consequences for our people in Republika Srpska and for the whole Serbdom. For this reason I have decided to write to you in the hope that I will thus contribute, however modestly, to putting things right and to finding a solution that would be in the interest of the people. 

First of all, I would like to stress that I welcome and give my full support to the mission of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle who is tirelessly working to reconcile brothers and prevent a further deterioration of the situation. Solutions ­ based on justice and law ­ must be found in a peaceful way, not by force and violence. If there is good will and the desire to put the interests of the people above everything else, just solution will be found. And I have never doubted that good will exists on all sides. 

Republika Srpska has rid itself of its communist legacy to a greater extent than our mother country ­ Serbia and Montenegro. However the remains of communist mentality and communist methods are still present and have found an expression especially in the conflict at the top of Republika Srpska. And all the indications are that the causes of the conflict lie primarily in the unscrupulous policy pursued vis-à-vis Republika Srpska by the ruling party's regime in Serbia. 

In view of this, I consider it of the greatest importance that Republika Srpska leaders put up a resistance against that policy which, on a broader scene, has resulted in the expulsion and exodus of Serbian people from Croatia and Western Bosnia and Hercegovina. If Republika Srpska leaders fail to resist that policy, I fear it will come to a tragic fragmentation of Republika Srpska with terrifying consequences for our people. I, therefore, believe that any solution of the current conflict in Republika Srpska must be sought in the resistance to the policy pursued by the Belgrade regime. I think it should be clear to everybody today that it is that regime that is responsible for Serbian suffering and Serbian defeats since 1991. It is high time that we save all that can be saved in Republika Srpska, but we can succeed in that only if we prevent further interference in Republika Srpska affairs by the regime in Belgrade. 

Republika Srpska must be base on democracy, human rights, justice and honesty. Our people say: "Justice is the cornerstone of the country and the cities" and Republika Srpska must strictly adhere to legality like any other state based on the rule of law. Another wise folk saying says: "He who deals with public affairs, must forget his private ones". It is inexcusable that some people in Republika Srpska should enrich themselves and live in luxury while ordinary people suffer and go hungry. That is not the basis on which Serbian consciousness and Serbian solidarity can be built. Have so many young people given their lives in order to enable war profiteers to enjoy themselves now? 

In all this tragedy, an important role is being played by foreign factors, which are actively interfering with our internal affairs, a fact that does not bode well. The international Community's action is very confused and to a large extent counter-productive since its intervention has not produced any positive results so far. But we must also ask ourselves who gave a chance to the foreign factors to interfere in our affairs? And here once again I would like to quote a wise folk saying: "He who does not want a brother for a brother, wants the foreigner as a master". 

Finally, I would like to appeal to you to bear in mind these words of mine when attempting to find solution to the conflict at the top of Republika Srpska. Although I am still an exile >from my country I do believe that my words reflect the views and stands of a great number of Serbs who mean well for their people. I would also like to tell people in Republika Srpska that the Karadjordjevic's will never forget them or desert them. As Head of the Karadjordjevic House I appeal to them not to despair. The Serbs shall overcome current difficulties. But we must pray to God to give us wisdom and strength." 

London, 3 September 1997