REFORM AGENDA CAN ONLY SUCCEED IF UNITARIZATION OF BiH IS ABANDONED

SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 7 /SRNA/ – The Chairman of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly Nikola Špirić told SRNA that the Reform Agenda represents a series of measures to be implemented by authorities at all levels in BiH, and that its success is only possible without centralization of the process.

Whether some like it or not, Špirić says, Republika Srpska is an essential factor in the process of European integration, which is confirmed by its support for the Reform Agenda, a step towards the funds outlined in the Growth Plan. "Claims about transfer of competencies are just a product of the frustration of those who would like to decide on the EU path from just one Sarajevo address," Špirić stated. He reminded that it took months for the cantons in the Federation of BiH to approve certain aspects of the Reform Agenda, which was part of the political turmoil between the "Troika" and the SDA. "It is dangerous to try to portray Republika Srpska as having blocked something, because it is an equal participant in making those decisions. This should serve as a lesson to the `Troika` and similar groups that even in this process, unitarization of BiH must be abandoned. If they have truly given up on that, then perhaps we are on the right path. Reform Agenda – yes, unitarization – no," Špirić concluded. The Council of Ministers adopted the Reform Agenda and the list of reforms on September 30.