IMPACT OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DECLARATION WILL DEPEND ON UNITY AND MATURITY

BANJA LUKA, JULY 7 /SRNA/ – The Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović said the effectiveness of the Declaration on the Protection of the Vital National Interests of the Serb People in BiH will depend on the political maturity and unity of Republika Srpska's political actors.

"The intention is to raise awareness of the position and rights of the Serb people, as well as of the capacities we need to possess in order to defend those rights," Cvijanović emphasized.

She noted that BiH is burdened with numerous problems and that Republika Srpska has repeatedly been subjected to actions she described as unconstitutional.

"We are speaking here about our views regarding the position of Republika Srpska and the Serb people in BiH. What could be more natural than having a situation where there is no outvoting, where you have your full constitutional authority and can exercise it as intended, and where you enjoy the same rights as others," Cvijanović told reporters at the National Assembly, which is considering the draft declaration.

She added that she sees this as demonstrating the National Assembly's ability to express its political position on any issue.

Asked about the Council of Ministers' call for the BiH Presidency to submit, without delay, the proposed 2026 budget of the BiH institutions and international obligations to the Parliamentary Assembly, Cvijanović said she had a clear position on the matter, reminding that she had supported the budget during the previous vote while the other two Presidency members had voted against it.

"I believe it is of paramount importance to ensure the salary increase that our employees are expecting. There was no reason to delay these matters," Cvijanović stressed.