KOŠARAC: SIPA DEPUTY DIRECTOR'S APPOINTMENT NOT SUPPORTED AS IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

SARAJEVO, JUNE 16 /SRNA/ - Council of Ministers Deputy Chair Staša Košarac has stated today that the ministers from Republika Srpska did not support the appointment of the Deputy Director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency /SIPA/, as it is an unconstitutional institution, just like the Court and Prosecutor's Office of BiH.

"Why validate such institutions? We cannot enter into the process of appointing positions within an unconstitutional institution," emphasized Košarac. He asked why there was no reaction to the decisions made by these unconstitutional institutions, which, according to him, have contaminated political relations in BiH. "Why /illegitimate/ Christian Schmidt was not condemned /by FBiH politicians/ and accused of being the cause of the political crisis in BiH?" Košarac asked. He stated that a return to dialogue is necessary, to resolve key political issues, namely Schmidt's departure from BiH, and to analyze the functioning of unconstitutional institutions. "Have you heard anyone criticize the unnecessary Appellate Council and the entire staged trial against the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik? You haven't! They were merely an audience that rejoiced," Košarac told the press in Sarajevo. According to him, the case was a staged trial against the legitimately elected president of Republika Srpska before unconstitutional institutions such as the Prosecutor’s Office and the Court. Košarac has stated that nothing that is not in accordance with the Constitution, political agreements, and the interests of Republika Srpska - including appointments of the SIPA Director and Deputy Director - will be allowed. Speaking about the ruling in the Vijadukt case, Košarac said that the Ministry of Finance and Treasury in the Council of Ministers clearly demonstrated which funds could be used to pay this debt. "The Presidency is the formal proposer of the budget, which must be forwarded to Parliament, instead of playing table tennis, as the Presidency is currently doing with the Council of Ministers. The Presidency has the capacity to define the budget," Košarac emphasized. He has noted that there have been many populist moves lately that are being repeated in cycles. "In recent months, following the shameful behaviour of the Bosniak political structure and the politically staged trial and ruling by the unconstitutional Court, they are trying to further contaminate the political scene by continuing attacks on the president of Republika Srpska and Srpska itself," Košarac stressed. He adds that laws that are not the result of agreement within BiH and do not have the backing of Republika Srpska institutions are expected to be proposed in the future. Košarac underscored that the attack on Republika Srpska continues because Bosniak politicians have not spoken out against the trial of the legitimately elected president of Republika Srpska, who acted in accordance with the Constitution, and said that such trials are harmful to BiH. "With this kind of internationals' behavior, it is clear that BiH lacks sovereignty. If we allow any tourist - and Schmidt has the status of a tourist - to make decisions, Sarajevo and BiH are the ones losing," Košarac concluded. He reminded that Republika Srpska and President Milorad Dodik had proposed adopting all 14 key priorities for EU integration as a package, but the Bosniak party was not in favour, and asked who, then, was blocking BiH’s EU path. "For every step forward on the EU path, there were positive opinions from Republika Srpska. No law would have been adopted without the support of Republika Srpska institutions. Edin Forto would never have become Minister /of Communications and Transport in the Council of Ministers/ if he hadn't begged Milorad Dodik - only to later insult such a man!?" Košarac said.