NIKŠIĆ'S APOLOGY IS ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT BiH IS UNDER PROTECTORATE

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 11 /SRNA/ - The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Radovan Višković told SRNA today that FBiH President Nermin Nikšić's statement that HDZ was outvoted under the pressure of former US Ambassador to BiH Michael Murphy when adopting the Law on Southern Gas Interconnection - is an admission that BiH is under a protectorate.

"I want to thank my colleague Federal Prime Minister Nikšić for finally admitting what we from Republika Srpska have been warning about all along - that BiH, especially FBiH, is under a kind of protectorate and that they do not make sovereign decisions, but make them under someone else's instructions," said Višković, commenting on the apology of Nikšić, who is also the leader of the SDP BiH, to HDZ president Dragan Čović.

Višković noted that it turned out that the issue of the southern gas interconnection was under pressure, and what was known in Srpska from which the warning came that Murphy somehow forced the FBiH Parliament and the FBiH Government to pass laws and decisions that were his wish, and not the wish of the elected officials in the FBiH.

"We can now make a link as to why they have been contesting the eastern gas interconnection from Bijeljina to Banja Luka and Prijedor all these years? Why has Srpska not been allowed to build that gas pipeline for more than 15 years, even though at that moment we had financial resources, investors, and the support of Russian 'Gazprom'," Višković said.

The Prime Minister of Srpska emphasized that it is obvious that, according to the same matrix that Nikšić admitted, that is, under the pressure of the same people, this was not allowed to Srpska because of the alleged Russian influence, as they want to portray it.

Višković added that in Sarajevo they don't want to be honest and say how they kept warm all this winter, both before and after the war, and how they use Russian gas in the economy.

"When it comes to their interest, they never once said that they would not use gas coming from Russia, nor that they would not use it for individuals and legal entities. Thanks to Republika Srpska, they have been using that gas for 30 years and more, and it does not bother them," Višković pointed out.

He emphasized that Srpska, because it was not allowed to make the eastern interconnection, lost millions, maybe even billions of profits that it should have had if that gas pipeline had been built, as it was planned back in 2010.

Višković reminded that two gas power plants of 300 megawatts each were planned for that gas pipeline route.

He reminded that two years ago, when there was an energy crisis in Europe, the price of a megawatt-hour of electricity was high, and that Srpska, if it had those two gas-fired power plants in operation, could have earned from the export of electricity, which at that time Europe was paying EUR 800 or more per megawatt-hour.

Višković emphasized that with Nikšić's apology to Čović, it finally came to light that in BiH, decisions were made and still are according to the matrix to create opinions both in the OHR and in some embassies.

He added that, when it comes to the Eastern interconnection, he can be optimistic about its realization in the conditions of changed geopolitical circumstances and the arrival of the Donald Trump's administration in the US.

"Trump has taken a normal position to take care of his country and his people. If Trump takes care of Americans and American interests, then it is quite normal that we also take care of the citizens of Republika Srpska. One rule cannot be valid for me only, but other standards for someone else," Višković said.

SDP president Nermin Nikšić publicly apologized to HDZ BiH president Dragan Čović that, under pressure from the former American ambassador to BiH Michael Murphy, SDP, with the support of all Bosniak parties, overvoted HDZ in the Government and Parliament of FBiH during the adoption of the Law on Southern Interconnection.