ŠKIPINA: WITHOUT SNSD, THERE WOULD BE NO FORCES IN BiH IMPLEMENTING REFORMS

PALE, JUNE 3 /SRNA/ – Member of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Damjan Škipina told SRNA that the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, through her statements, demonstrates a serious lack of understanding of the complex relations and processes in BiH, as well as a lack of information.

"Not a single law important for BiH’s European path was adopted because of the blockades by the Bosniak bloc, which, by breaking quorum, prevent the holding of sessions. There is silence about these blockades, just as there is silence about the statements by Bosniak representatives that European laws are not a priority," Škipina emphasized for SRNA, responding to Kos's claim that the political deadlock in BiH continues to slow progress and that she supports parties and actors committed to the EU path, while saying that Milorad Dodik's secessionist policy is dragging the country backward. Škipina stressed that forces that believe in a European future and that implement reforms would not exist without SNSD, which entered the entire process with full capacity and readiness to fulfill what was agreed. "The problem arose when the German national Christian Schmidt took it upon himself to impose decisions and proclaim them as laws. Republika Srpska had to respond to protect its autonomy and its rights, which were under attack. Christian Schmidt is an unappointed foreigner who has caused the greatest crisis in BiH—both constitutional and political—about which Ms. Kos seems to know nothing. There is no separatist policy in Republika Srpska. Republika Srpska and its representatives pursue a sovereignist policy and advocate for the return of autonomy to BiH and Republika Srpska, as guaranteed, and stand against international interventionism and colonialism," said Škipina. He stated that Republika Srpska and its elected officials demand respect for the Dayton Agreement, the BiH Constitution, and the laws, and that institutions work in accordance with the laws adopted by parliament, not under the dictate of Schmidt, who seeks to impose himself as the ruler of the country. "Republika Srpska is asking for the rule of law to be respected and for Schmidt’s rule to end. That is all we are asking, and we fail to see what is wrong with that," Škipina concluded.