NO CONCRETE RESPONSES FROM THE EU DELEGATION - UNBOTHERED BY PAYMENTS TO OFFSHORE COMPANIES

BANJA LUKA, JULY 22 /SRNA/ - The EU Delegation to BiH failed to provide concrete and clear answers to the questions in a letter sent by the Government of Republika Srpska regarding the payment according to an arbitration decision related to Vijadukt, as well as the procurement of equipment for the upcoming electoral process in BiH, thereby showing disregard for the citizens of Srpska, who have the right to accurate and verified information, the Government told SRNA.

"In its response, the EU Delegation focused on the need to procure equipment for the upcoming elections in BiH, while the letter from the Government of Republika Srpska clearly stated that the procurement of such equipment, which the EU insists on, is the lowest priority for citizens in BiH," the Government emphasized. The Republika Srpska Government also stated that the EU Delegation did not provide a single answer regarding suspicious transactions and payments made to the accounts of offshore companies registered on the Channel Islands, whose representatives are unknown. "Likewise, they seem unbothered by the fact that the flow of money cannot be traced. The response contains no facts, no arguments, and none of the information that was requested," the Republika Srpska Government said. The Government emphasized that the EU Delegation's response suggests that the procurement of the said equipment for the electoral process is of great importance to them, even though they are aware that similar equipment was procured in some European countries and later went unused. "It seems that the EU Delegation to BiH cares most about procuring this kind of equipment and, of course, that it be paid for handsomely," the Government said. The Government expressed regret that not a single meaningful response was received from the EU Delegation to BiH, one that would include arguments, facts, and answers to the questions raised. "Indeed, such a response belittles the citizens of Republika Srpska, who have the right to accurate and verified information regarding the Vijadukt case and the procurement of equipment for the electoral process," the Government stated. The Republika Srpska Government finds it incomprehensible that the EU Delegation is either unwilling, unable, or does not know how to provide answers to concrete questions. "Likewise, the EU Delegation to BiH seems to have no issue with the fact that funds for Vijadukt are being paid into the accounts of offshore companies based on the Channel Islands, without knowing who owns these companies and without observing the procedures and formalities necessary to ensure transparency in the process," the Government emphasized. The BiH Central Bank released the funds for the payment of debt to the Slovenian company Vijadukt following the decision imposed by Christian Schmidt.