KOŠARAC: THERE IS NO SUPPORT FOR IMPOSING CONDITIONS ON REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

SARAJEVO, DECEMBER 2 /SRNA/ - Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac stated that SNSD ministers will never support anything placed on the agenda unless it has first been coordinated within the institutions of Republika Srpska.

Košarac said that SNSD ministers did not block the work of the Council of Ministers today; rather, they did not support the meeting agenda because it had not been agreed upon.

He said that the policy of the Republika Srpska Government is constitutional, and that anything which does not involve imposing conditions on Republika Srpska enjoys their support.

"We need to get serious so that we can address key issues in the future," Košarac said.

He stated that SNSD ministers in the Council of Ministers will never support any agenda items that have not been previously coordinated within the institutions of Republika Srpska.

"I don’t know why some have failed to understand this," Košarac told reporters in Sarajevo.

He explained that the bills were only submitted for review this morning at 09:00, without the opinions of the relevant institutions.

Košarac said that the unconstitutional appointment of the chief negotiator with the EU must be prevented.

He recalled that the House of Peoples rejected the Bill on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council /HJPC/ based on the initiative of NIP.

"Anything that has not been coordinated with the Republika Srpska Government will not receive support in the Council of Ministers," Košarac said, adding that the transfer of competences will not be allowed.

He called on ministers from the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ to focus on problems within their entity, rather than talking about "Russian submarines," as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, Elmedin Konaković, has done.

"Do you remember Edin Forto’s story - let’s just adopt the Growth Plan, and the money will come? Did that money ever arrive? Stop deceiving the public. You are afraid of the 2026 elections," Košarac emphasized.

He stated that the SNSD is not blocking anything, but rather representing the interests of Republika Srpska, and that the Republika Srpska Government reflects the electoral will of its citizens.

"You should understand that you need to consult with the institutions of Republika Srpska. You are trying to challenge the government of Savo Minić, which was constitutionally appointed," Košarac said.

He said that it was proposed to remove from the agenda the Draft Decision on the Establishment of the Office of the Chief EU Negotiator for BiH, the Draft Bill on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council /HJPC/, and the Draft Bill on Amendments to the Law on the Court of BiH, while discussing the remaining items, but there was no will to do so.

"They tried today to break us and put us in a position where we could be outvoted. We will not allow you to outvote us," Košarac said.

Košarac said that the Russian Federation is not blackmailing BiH, citing the continuous gas supply to Sarajevo as evidence.

"Ignore the unsuccessful politicians from the FBiH. It would be much better if we all cooperated with the Russian Federation and opened other platforms," Košarac said.

Speaking about the southern interconnection, Košarac said that Republika Srpska has never challenged it and emphasized the importance of having multiple interconnections.

"That would lower energy prices. We have made it very clear that mutual relations within the FBiH should be defined, a draft agreement with Croatia formulated, and submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations," Košarac said, adding that the eastern interconnection, which has passed the procedure in the Council of Ministers, has been stalled for 15 years.

He reiterated that Republika Srpska emphasized the importance of working on both the eastern and southern interconnections simultaneously.

"Do not assume that we will give up on the new eastern interconnection. It is important for the part of Republika Srpska from Bijeljina to Banja Luka and Novi Grad," Košarac stated.