KOŠARAC: ATTEMPT TO APPOINT CHIEF EU NEGOTIATOR IS “POINTLESS JOB” OF TWO ‘TROIKAS’

SARAJEVO, NOVEMBER 25 /SRNA/ – Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac described as a "pointless job" the attempt by the "troika" parties from the FBiH and the opposition "troika" from Republika Srpska to appoint BiH’s chief negotiator with the EU, stressing that nothing can be done without SNSD and the institutions of Republika Srpska.

"This is their attempt to present themselves as an important political factor, and they are doing so by violating the BiH Constitution and laws," Košarac said.

He stated that the FBiH "troika" is in complete disarray, which can be seen in their voting behavior, while the Republika Srpska "troika" does not enjoy the support of citizens in Srpska.

"But it is clear they are trying, through joint integrated political projects, to weaken Republika Srpska, its institutions, and in some way delegitimize the majority electoral will of the Serb people, expressed through the political representatives of SNSD and its coalition partners at the level of joint institutions," Košarac stressed.

He added that the attempt of the two "troikas" is aimed at finding a solution that would prevent election winners from Republika Srpska, who are part of BiH-level structures, from participating in the selection of the chief EU negotiator.

"This is a pointless job, and I don’t know with whom that chief negotiator would even cooperate, certainly not with me. He certainly won’t be working with /Minister of Finance and Treasury/ Srđan Amidžić or with the Government of Republika Srpska," Košarac told reporters in Višegrad.

He recalled that, under earlier agreements between SNSD, HDZ, and the FBiH "troika," the position of chief negotiator belonged to SNSD and the Serb people.

"Now they want to bypass the SNSD, which is an indispensable factor, as well as the institutions of Republika Srpska. You cannot work on the Growth Plan and the implementation of the Reform Agenda while sidelining Srpska’s institutions," Košarac said.

If the chief EU negotiator is appointed in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Košarac emphasized that such a person could only represent the FBiH, not Republika Srpska or BiH as a whole.

"The FBiH and BiH cannot do anything without Republika Srpska. In our people’s words, it all amounts to ‘multiplied by zero," Košarac concluded.