CVIJANOVIĆ: THERE CAN BE NO SUCCESS AS LONG AS IMPOSED FORCE REPLACES DIALOGUE

When a foreign administration such as the one present in BiH exists, it is difficult to speak of genuine development, because when something is detached from the democratic system, it is difficult to behave democratically, Cvijanović said.

Interviewed by: Nataša ČEREMIDŽIĆ ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, January 16 /SRNA/ – The Serb member of the Presidency of BiH Željka Cvijanović said in an interview with SRNA that BiH cannot achieve success as long as imposed force prevails instead of dialogue, and that Republika Srpska, through its institutions, can ensure political and economic stability for its citizens. Cvijanović said that, due to the lack of dialogue among domestic institutions in BiH, both the economy and infrastructure are suffering. "Everything in this country is suffering because of a distorted scenario or the role usurped by foreigners. It is high time for institutions to breathe and start doing their job in accordance with democratic principles," Cvijanović stressed. FRAGILE BiH COMMUNITY Cvijanović emphasized that BiH is based on the Dayton Agreement, which precisely defined the authority of domestic institutions and how they should act and make decisions within their competences. "For BiH, dialogue is the only possible solution. All externally imposed solutions have proven disastrous and have led us from one crisis to another," Cvijanović pointed out. IN GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS, PRESERVING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY IS KEY Cvijanović said that there is no global development that does not affect every part of the world, and that the most important thing is to preserve the capacity of Republika Srpska's institutions to fulfill their obligations toward all categories of the population. She noted that political decisions must enable the survival of institutions. "What is happening on the global stage today can be felt in micro-spaces. The Balkans are, globally speaking, a micro-space. There are various debates, different expectations and fears. Generally speaking, this entire region is excluded from what is called global decision-making," Cvijanović said. She added that the world is entering an era in which the "game of the great powers" is far more visible than before. Commenting on the election of the new Government of Republika Srpska, Cvijanović said that this is also a positive response to the challenges caused by global developments. "Especially with a focus on what needs to be done to protect the population, to deliver on what was promised, including wage and pension increases, as well as infrastructure projects that will serve everyone in Republika Srpska," Cvijanović emphasized. SARAJEVO HAS DECLARED ITSELF THROUGH SUPPORT FOR HAMAS AND SIMILAR GROUPS Commenting on posters recently displayed in Sarajevo resembling "wanted" posters for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cvijanović said this reflects attitudes toward sides in global issues, noting that the city has previously hosted rallies where Hamas flags and those of other organizations declared dangerous and terrorist at the global level were waved. "In this way, Sarajevo is declaring itself as being against Israel, and this is clearly visible. This is not the only manifestation. We previously had rallies in support of Palestine, and we will recall that there were also rallies where Hamas flags and those of other organizations declared dangerous and terrorist globally were waved," Cvijanović said. She stressed that taking sides clearly demonstrates a political stance and recalled that Republika Srpska has a clear position regarding major conflicts. "We do not want to expose ourselves in that way. We have our traditional friends, and we believe they will succeed in doing everything necessary to restore peace, whether in Ukraine or Gaza," Cvijanović said, adding that at the level of the Presidency and the Council of Ministers, consent has been given to decisions offering participation in peace efforts. DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE ONLY IN PEACE AND WITHOUT DISLOCATED DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM Cvijanović said that it is difficult to speak of development in BiH under foreign administration. "Our messages should be messages of calming tensions, not messages of taking sides. When you have peace, you can talk about development. When you have a foreign administration, as is the case in BiH, it is difficult to speak of real development, because when something is detached from the democratic system, it is difficult to behave democratically," Cvijanović said. She stressed that democratic behavior also implies voting in elections where representatives are chosen to protect the interests of their people through political decisions in institutions, rather than changing the will of voters. "The will of voters cannot be trampled. The judiciary cannot be manipulated, nor can it be allowed, as various High Representatives in BiH previously did, and as the illegitimate Christian Schmidt believes today, to act above a democratically elected parliament, to usurp authority and steal the parliament's role," Cvijanović warned. SERBS WILL NEVER TURN AWAY FROM THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH Cvijanović condemned a statement by former head of the Islamic Community Mustafa Cerić, saying that his call to establish a "Bosnian Orthodox Church" revealed a desire to distance Serbs from the Serbian Orthodox Church. "First, what gives them the right to say this? Second, what are they trying to achieve, what message are they sending? Third, and perhaps most problematically, whom do they `want to be the master in this country`?" Cvijanović asked. LAST YEAR MARKED BY A CRISIS OF COMPETENCIES She pointed out that the usurpation of institutions at the joint level is evident - in the Presidency, the Council of Ministers, and the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH. Cvijanović emphasized that the Presidency is an institution where positions are reached through agreements, and that any form of outvoting or unilateral action is unacceptable. "All institutions were in crisis. Disrupted relations within the Council of Ministers, disrupted relations within the Parliamentary Assembly, and all of this as the result of someone's megalomaniac desire to govern everything and everyone in BiH," Cvijanović assessed. She stressed that, in addition to internal usurpation, there is evident disorder caused by unconstitutional interventionism by foreigners. "These interventions have led to general chaos in the country. They have led to the abuse of the judiciary, to foreigners imposing laws and the judiciary acting on the basis of those laws. The Constitution clearly defines who the legislator is and who is authorized to propose legislation," Cvijanović emphasized. Cvijanović concluded that BiH is a country where the Constitution is being trampled, and imposed force prevails.