KOŠARAC: BiH MIUST CHOOSE BETWEEN SOVEREIGNITY AND PROTECTORATE

SARAJEVO, DECEMBER 8 /SRNA/ – The Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac has stated today that the SNSD is not blocking the work of state institutions, but will not tolerate false narratives aimed at President Milorad Dodik and the institutions of Republika Srpska, adding that any issue not coordinated with Republika Srpska’s institutions cannot be placed on the agenda.

Košarac said that the claim that the SNSD is blocking state institutions is a “worn-out Sarajevo mantra,” underlining that the party pursues a responsible and independent political course and that it is necessary to finally choose between institutional sovereignty and an international protectorate. “No one is avoiding coordination, but the SNSD’s calls for dialogue are being ignored. In which European country can a foreigner impose laws while domestic politicians applaud? That is not our politics, and we will not give it up,” Košarac told reporters after the failure to adopt the agenda of the Council of Ministers session. He stressed that it is important to agree on the chief negotiator with the EU, and that other issues can be discussed afterward, adding that it is necessary to “clean up the mess created by /Christian/ Schmidt” in the BiH Criminal Code before progress can be made in other areas. Košarac, who is a member of the SNSD Presidency, stated that the party believes the BiH Parliamentary Assembly is the only body with constitutional authority to pass laws, while BiH currently has “two legislative actors – the illegitimate Schmidt and the BiH Parliament.” According to him, one political camp accepts the decisions of the illegitimate high representative and embraces a protectorate, while the other rejects it because such a function is not outlined in the BiH Constitution. Košarac emphasized that the key issue is amending the Criminal Code and that before discussing the laws on the Court of BiH and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, it was necessary to annul and render invalid everything imposed by Schmidt. He added that the SNSD advocates talks and agreements on all matters and is not blocking the process but simply has a clear political stance. Košarac assessed that “it is essential to appoint the chief negotiator, then the negotiating office, and then consider everything else,” asking why some are avoiding this and accepting narratives from “whoever happens to come to BiH and suggest who should appoint the chief negotiator.” He noted that, under the BiH Constitution and the Stabilization and Association Agreement, the chief negotiator is appointed by the Council of Ministers and must be a Serb from Republika Srpska, specifically from the SNSD. Košarac said BiH’s EU path has been stalled since June 5, when delegate Kemal Ademović voted against the Law on the HJPC in the House of Peoples. “Does the ‘Troika’ have control over its own delegate? The same goes for the ‘Troika’ in Republika Srpska. So, we have two ‘Troikas’ pretending to be on the European path,” Košarac added. He reminded that the working group on the judiciary was supposed to deal with implementing the 14 key priorities and asked whether Minister of Justice Davor Bunoza had convened any meetings recently, noting that the last one was held in July. Košarac argued that Bunoza bears serious responsibility and has created confusion in communication with institutions and the EU. He stressed that it is unacceptable to question the legitimacy of the Republika Srpska Government or claim that Milorad Dodik was illegally elected SNSD president, assessing that such claims “contaminate relations in BiH under Schmidt’s instructions.” In his view, “the ‘Troika’ has been disoriented ever since former U.S. Ambassador to BiH Michael Murphy left, because they have had no leader since then.”