MINIĆ ACCEPTS PRESIDENTIAL MANDATE, NEW GOVERNMENT BY DECEMBER 15

SARAJEVO, NOVEMBER 9 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić signed a statement in Sarajevo today accepting his mandate as President of Republika Srpska, before telling reporters that a new government would be formed by December 15.

Minić said he had submitted to the BiH Central Election Commission /CEC/ a document transferring all the prime minister's powers to Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Minister Anđelka Kuzmić.

Minić said the inaugural session of the Republika Srpska National Assembly would be held on Monday, November 16, when he would take the oath of office. He added that he was starting talks on forming the Republika Srpska government today.

"Once I am officially President of Republika Srpska, I will invite representatives of all the political parties for talks, and we will decide who to give the mandate to form the government," Minić said.

He said he would continue to work in the interest of Republika Srpska and contribute to its further development.

He said this applied above all to international cooperation, to reaching beyond Republika Srpska's borders, and to relations with partners in Europe and around the world.

"I believe better days are certainly coming for Republika Srpska, and that, besides protecting Republika Srpska's constitutional and institutional capacity, we will certainly help create a better environment for living," Minić said.