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Brexit and the rise of populist parties in national elections were signs the EU is no longer the power force it once was, Mr Dodik said.

He was speaking after it emerged a potentially explosive independence referendum will not be held in Bosnias Serb Republic next year.

He described Bosnia as a failing state on a path to further fragmentation, slammed the EU and praised Russia and China for offering the Balkans friendship without attaching political conditions.

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The very fact Britain is going out, that any elections are observed traumatically, it tells a lot about the whole story of the situation of the EU

Milorad Dodik

He told politico.eu: The European Union is fading away.

The very fact Britain is going out, that any elections are observed traumatically, it tells a lot about the whole story of the situation of the EU.

And it shows the EU image now is not the same as it was 10 years ago.

Chinas influence is much, much stronger and they are offering economic solutions without political interference.

Mr Dodik denied claims he was being manipulated by Russia to stoke tensions in the Balkans and said he had never discussed breaking his Serb Republic away from Bosnia with Vladimir Putin.

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But he said he would rather deal with the Russian leader than the EU and past US administrations.

He said: Russia havent asked anything from me, to do anything impossible.

But when I go to Brussels, when I went to Washington previously, pressure was put on me and on many other politicians from here as well. So whats natural?

Is it natural that you go somewhere where you are welcome, or to go somewhere where the pressure is put on you?

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There are growing fears of new conflict in Bosnia and across the Balkans as ethnic groups attempt to redraw national borders.

Western officials warned Serb Republic leaders that breaking away would be illegal and not recognised by the international community.

The Serb Republic is one of Bosnias two autonomous regions, known as entities, established under the Dayton peace agreement that ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian war which killed 100,000 people.

Read more from the original source:
'EU is fading away' Bosnian Serb leader uses Brexit to pour scorn on Brussels bigwigs - Express.co.uk