STANIŠIĆ: TIME FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO STOP CREATING CONFLICT HOTSPOTS IN BiH

PALE, JUNE 25 /SRNA/ – It is high time for representatives of the international community in BiH to stop creating conflict hotspots and allow political structures under their control to sit down with the institutions of Republika Srpska to resolve key issues affecting the lives of all BiH citizens, said MP Aco Stanišić in a statement to SRNA.

Commenting on a statement from the EU Delegation expressing "serious concern" over the draft law amending the Law on Police and Internal Affairs under urgent procedure, Stanišić said the only truly concerning element was the EU Delegation's spreading of misleading information, intended, he argued, to escalate tensions and spread unjustified fear among citizens. "Instead of doing their job—which should be to help local governments in the process of EU integration—they’re doing the opposite. They are unnecessarily inflaming already tense relations between Banja Luka and Sarajevo, making us all hostages to their interests and the constant blockade of BiH's progress," Stanišić emphasized. He added that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska has clearly explained the rationale for introducing a police reserve unit, and even called on the Federation of BiH to regulate this matter at the entity and cantonal levels—making the EU Delegation’s reaction even more meaningless. "Unfortunately, some politicians use such reactions from the international community as motivation to deepen the crisis further, rather than seeking solutions. We've been stuck for far too long in this game of good guys and bad guys—while the world, and time, move on. I fear that by the time everyone in BiH comes to their senses, we'll be far behind the region, let alone the rest of the developing world," Stanišić said. Stanišić stressed that it is tragic that "those who came to reconcile us" are in fact "the ones who divide us"—but even more tragic, he added, is the fact that there are always people within BiH who are willing to play on their team, citing “insurmountable political differences.” "Republika Srpska must stand above all differences, and anyone who is willing to gamble with that for a position, votes, or any kind of interest is no friend to the citizens of Srpska—who still remember well what they endured and sacrificed in order for us to live in Republika Srpska today," Stanišić concluded.