TRIŠIĆ-BABIĆ: BOTH TRIVIĆ AND STANIVUKOVIĆ HAD ROOM AT SCHMIDT'S TABLE

BANJA LUKA, JULY 16 /SRNA/ - The Acting Director of the Republika Srpska Office for International Cooperation Ana Trišić-Babić said that Jelena Trivić should, before lecturing others about principles, show at least a minimum of respect for the truth.

Trišić-Babić pointed out for SRNA that, as someone who has spent most of her professional life working in the institutions of Republika Srpska, she has learned that the truth is Republika Srpska's strongest ally. "In the most difficult times our people have gone through, it was precisely the truth that gave strength to our struggle and brought Republika Srpska victory and preservation of its constitutional position," she emphasized. Trišić-Babić said that, for the sake of truth, she was obliged to remind the public that Christian Schmidt had never been a legitimate high representative for her, nor for the institutions of Republika Srpska. "He was legitimate only for certain politicians in Republika Srpska. Unfortunately, among them were Banja Luka Mayor Draško Stanivuković and then-member of the Republika Srpska National Assembly Jelena Trivić, who received him, met with him and shared smiling photographs from those meetings with the public," Trišić-Babić reminded. She stressed that those photographs did not help Republika Srpska, but exclusively helped Christian Schmidt in his attempts to create an appearance of legitimacy for himself and cause political damage to Republika Srpska. "My statement is completely clear and available to everyone. I said that Christian Schmidt is not a legitimate high representative and that, for the institutions of Republika Srpska, the only legitimate high representative will be one whose appointment is confirmed by the United Nations Security Council, at either a regular or special session dedicated to BiH," she underlined. She said this was not a new policy or a change of position, but a consistent position of Republika Srpska's institutions from the very beginning. "Therefore, the question remains whether Jelena Trivić, driven by political opportunism or hatred as the fuel of her politics, has lost the ability to hear or see. My statement exists, it is available online and everyone can see and hear it," Trišić-Babić stressed. She assessed that it would benefit Republika Srpska if the opposition showed at least a minimum of responsibility and scruples regarding issues where unity should be natural and understood. "I hope Jelena Trivić will learn something from her mistake, because Republika Srpska does not need fabricated affairs and statements, but responsible politics when it comes to protecting its constitutional and national interests," Trišić-Babić said. Instead of trying to analyze statements that she clearly had neither read nor listened to in full, she added, it would be more useful for Trivić personally to analyze the agreement of the Banja Luka "Troika" - SDS, PSS and Narodni front. "For her and her political standing, it is much more important to know whether that agreement states who has the right to pursue the premiership ambitions - Draško Stanivuković or her. When it comes to the seat next to Christian Schmidt, there were obviously enough chairs for both of them. When it comes to standing and political support among citizens, I fear that is no longer so certain," Trišić-Babić stated.