KOŠARAC: DOMESTIC CARRIERS NEED MAXIMUM SUPPORT FROM RELEVANT INSTITUTIONS

SARAJEVO, JULY 28 /SRNA/ - All relevant institutions must provide maximum support to domestic carriers who are facing many problems, the most pressing being the discriminatory treatment concerning the allowed stay in the EU, said the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac.

"It is our duty to protect the road transportation sector, which is of vital importance for the economic development of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH /FBiH/," Košarac said. He said that it is high time the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the diplomatic and consular network of BiH addressed the problems facing domestic carriers in a serious, responsible, and thorough manner. "It is evident that the past activities, if there were any, have been insufficient, inadequate, and have failed to improve the situation on the ground," believes Košarac, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers. According to him, it is inadmissible that the EU so flagrantly violates the Stabilization and Association Agreement and undermines the human rights of carriers, freedom of movement of people, goods, and capital, and exchange of services, without an appropriate reaction from these two ministries. Košarac stated that the passive and ineffective behavior of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the diplomatic and consular network, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications is concerning, especially since they failed to provide institutional regional support and a joint regional approach to the EU aimed at resolving the issues faced by carriers. "Once again, I want to reiterate my personal commitment and dedication to resolving the accumulated problems of domestic carriers, should they fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry I head," Košarac said. In this regard, he requested today that the director of the BiH Veterinary Office urgently provide, within three days, information regarding allegations that vehicles are facing multi-hour delays at the Gradiška border crossing, as well as at other border crossings, with trucks carrying perishable goods and products of animal origin waiting for up to five hours. "We must determine whether responsibility lies with veterinary inspectors due to possible dereliction of duty or if inspections are conducted according to the schedule set by the BiH Indirect Tax Authority. In any case, it is my position that both institutions must be allies of domestic carriers and do whatever it takes to make their job easier," Košarac said. In a written statement, he said that he is a genuine ally of domestic carriers and urged them to report, without any fear, all possible abuses or cases of dereliction of duty by border veterinary inspectors. "If there is a single case of dereliction of duty, it must be adequately sanctioned," said Košarac. He pointed out that experience has shown Croatia to have an unfair attitude toward export-oriented businesses from BiH, often ignoring delays at border crossings to protect its interests. "It is unacceptable that the Croatian side maintains an indifferent attitude toward the problems of our businesses, which threatens to become an open issue between BiH and Croatia, similar to the issue of construction of the disputed radioactive waste repository on Trgovska Gora," Košarac said. The "Logistika BiH" Consortium yesterday called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, Elmedin Konaković, to take urgent diplomatic action after eight professional truck drivers were arrested in the past ten days in the EU member states - Germany, Austria and Poland, on accusations that are legally unfounded and contrary to the spirit of international conventions.