KOŠARAC: KONAKOVIĆ ADMITTED TO SIGNING SECRET AGREEMENTS, THEREBY VIOLATING CONSTITUTION AND LAWS

SARAJEVO, APRIL 7 /SRNA/ - Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac said that Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konaković admitted during today’s Council of Ministers session that he signs secret lobbying agreements, about which he cannot inform the Council of Ministers, thus violating the law and the Constitution and will have to answer for it.

"He says he has signed a secret lobbying agreement, that there are other secret agreements, and that he has money secured for this, but refuses to say from which funds. Furthermore, he says he signs memoranda on behalf of the ministry with other ministries without the consent of the Council of Ministers. What kind of a minister violates laws and the Constitution?" asked Košarac. Košarac emphasized that this is a concerning fact for which Konaković will have to answer both politically and in every other way, because he signed a contract for consulting services with one of the American lobbying firms on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers. "I remind you that foreign policy is defined by the Presidency of BiH. No one can sign any international agreement on behalf of BiH without the authorization of the Presidency or the Council of Ministers. This is not BiH, Elmedin Konaković is not BiH," Košarac stressed, adding that Konaković does not have the authority to violate laws and the Constitution. Košarac said that this lobbying contract with Konaković's signature is a criminal offense of false representation and abuse of power, as he did not receive a mandate from the Presidency of BiH or the Council of Ministers for it. "I asked the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers about this, and she was not informed. Borjana Krišto and I share the same views on this matter, very clearly and transparently," Košarac stated. He added that Konaković referred them to the unconstitutional Court and Prosecutor's Office of BiH, knowing the political stance of the Republika Srpska representatives regarding these institutions. "This is a red flag for everyone to investigate these allegations, and all of this is recorded in the transcript. They are trying to portray people from Republika Srpska in various ways, while referring to judicial institutions that lack constitutional capacity, but we will have other means," Košarac told reporters in Sarajevo.