KOVAČEVIĆ: REPUBLIKA SRPSKA CALLS ON EU TO BE ALLY IN PROTECTING RULE OF LAW

SARAJEVO, DECEMBER 17 /SRNA/ – Delegate of the Serb Caucus in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH Radovan Kovačević today called on the European Union, on behalf of Republika Srpska, to act as an ally in protecting the rule of law in BiH and in eliminating any imposition of laws by unelected foreign officials.

Kovačević said that in the previous period, as a representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, he travelled to Brussels where he lobbied for BiH to obtain candidate status and to open accession negotiations with the EU, noting that concrete results were achieved and that there is much to be proud for in those efforts. "I went to lobby for candidate status – we succeeded in obtaining it. I went to lobby at all committees of the European Parliament and with representatives of all European political parties to open negotiations for us," Kovačević told reporters after the session of the House of Peoples. He pointed out that after those successes, representatives of the Bosniak political bloc, namely Sarajevo-based parties, decided to break cooperation with the election winners from Republika Srpska, that is, with those who have the constitutional capacity to participate in government. "After that, we did not achieve a single result. When you add to all this the fact that BiH has an unelected foreigner who has no mandate and whom no one invited, who violates one of the fundamental postulates of the EU, that the rule of law is, then it is difficult to expect any serious progress," Kovačević emphasized. He recalled that yesterday, during a meeting with the Head of the EU Delegation to BiH Luigi Soreca he openly asked whether the EU still supports the rule of law and whether the rule of law means that an unelected foreigner in any country violates the Constitution and imposes laws. Kovačević stressed that Ambassador Soreca openly stated that this does not constitute the rule of law and that it is not something the EU supports. "Soreca stated two very important things at that meeting: the first of which is that it is complete nonsense and an absolute falsehood that the EU believes even a millimeter of centralization is needed in BiH, and that this country, with its existing constitutional structure of two entities and three equal, constituent peoples, can move towards the EU without obstacles," Kovačević said. According to Kovačević, Ambassador Soreca also said that the existence of international supervision, any high representative, and any so-called Bonn powers are absolutely incompatible with BiH's ability to progress toward the EU and potentially become a member. As Kovačević stated, the Head of the EU Delegation pointed out that if BiH wants progress and any steps on the European path, international supervision and any possibility for a high representative to intervene in legislation must be eliminated. "In that sense, Republika Srpska calls on the EU to be our ally in protecting the rule of law in BiH and in eliminating everything that runs counter to the rule of law, namely any imposition of laws in BiH by unelected foreigners," Kovačević said. He believes that only after that can the country make accelerated progress toward the EU. Kovačević noted that the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH could be proud of its work. "Then someone decided to erase us with an eraser and eliminate us with a bulldozer. It seems to me that the erasers are of poor quality, the bulldozer is not working, or it has run out of fuel, maybe," Kovačević said. He added that he will remain in the same position after next year's elections and will continue to protect Republika Srpska and all its citizens even more strongly, while also remaining available to reach agreements within BiH so that life can be better for everyone.