SRPSKA IS STABLE - HIGHER VETERANS' ALLOWANCES, DISABILITY BENEFITS, AND PENSIONS AS OF SEPTEMBER

BANJA LUKA, AUGUST 16 /SRNA/ - Zora Vidović, Minister of Finance of Republika Srpska, stated that Republika Srpska is stable and not isolated, despite the wishes of the West, political Sarajevo, and, unfortunately, the opposition in Srpska, and announced that as of September, veterans’ allowances and disability benefits will be increased by no less than ten percent, while pensions will rise by around three percent.

She also emphasized that another revision of the Republika Srpska budget is expected by the end of the year. Regarding the current economic situation in Republika Srpska, Vidović noted that over the past three years, some have repeatedly predicted its collapse, reflecting the wishes of the West, Sarajevo, and, unfortunately, the opposition in Srpska, but those voices fell silent when it did not happen. “Republika Srpska is stable and not isolated, regardless of their efforts. The World Bank, which does not factor politics into its programs, is very interested in our projects, and its funding is favorable,” Vidović said. According to her, the problem in BiH is caused by the Central Bank, which provides no benefit and only does a disservice to everyone in the country. “We have huge reserves held abroad, and when there are disruptions in interest rates on financial markets, we suffer losses and have to sell gold to compensate. And we have no influence over this,” Vidović told RTRS, noting that the director of the Central Bank has never been a Serb and that Serbs in the management are regularly outvoted. Vidović emphasized that BiH lacks a monetary policy and that it is a miracle that the economy in Republika Srpska continues to survive, consistently recording growth in gross domestic product. “Our employers deserve recognition for how they manage under these conditions. Thanks are also due to the workers, who, together with employers, generate solid profits, sustaining our economic activity, which continues to grow year after year. In the first quarter, GDP increased by two percent, which is the average growth rate in Europe,” Vidović said.