KOŠARAC: COORDINATION MECHANISM MIRRORED IN GROWTH PLAN DECISION-MAKING; SDS DECEIVING PUBLIC TO COVER UP PARTY'S COLLAPSE

EAST SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 8 /SRNA/ – Certain individuals from the SDS are persistently misleading the public with inaccurate and populist statements about the Growth Plan and reform agenda, attempting to cover up their own unrest, problems, and the fact that their party is falling apart, said Staša Košarac, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers.

"In the absence of political courage and national responsibility, the SDS would like to pander a little to voters in Republika Srpska and a little to the Sarajevo political arena. In that split, they are unable to take a clear political course. The only certain thing is that they are heading down an unstoppable path of collapse," Košarac said. Speaking in terms of facts, Košarac explained to SRNA that the Growth Plan was created through alignment at all levels of government in BiH, noting that a working, not final, version of the document was submitted to Brussels for review. "No step was included in the Growth Plan without the consent of Republika Srpska institutions, nor will any step in its implementation be taken that could weaken the constitutional capacity and competencies of Republika Srpska. The coordination mechanism is mirrored in the decision-making process of the Growth Plan. This is the policy of Republika Srpska President, Milorad Dodik, its institutions, and its representatives at the joint /state/ level! Without Srpska, there is no decision-making at the BiH level," Košarac emphasized. Reacting to the falsehoods spread by SDS officials about the Growth Plan, Košarac reminded them of how Mirko Šarović in 2016 negotiated the coordination mechanism without including the constitutional competencies of Republika Srpska and visibility of its institutions in the decision-making process. "Do they really think we've forgotten that betrayal?!" Košarac asked. Furthermore, he said, the SDS and the rest of the opposition in Republika Srpska should clearly state what they promised Sarajevo’s “Troika” when they proposed the so-called cooperation platform. "Did they raise any concerns in that document about the EU path if it meant diminishing Republika Srpska? No, they didn't. They simply insisted on continuing the EU path. Completely politically tone-deaf and nationally irresponsible. Then they hypocritically mislead the public with lies about the weakening of Republika Srpska through the Growth Plan! Why don't they want to comment on the reactions of certain cantons, who are seriously criticizing the `Troika` for returning some competencies from BiH back to Republika Srpska through the Growth Plan? SDS is silent on that," Košarac pointed out. He said that completely ignorant individuals from the SDS are commenting on the Growth Plan and the law on the regulator, transmission and electricity market in BiH, pretending to be concerned about the transfer of competencies. "Let's clarify – there has been a regulator at the BiH level since 2002, called DERK. This law does not give DERK any new competencies. On the contrary, we have prevented centralization and transfer of competencies, but have strengthened the role and position of the entity-level regulators because the law now ensures they can participate in regional and international bodies, which was not previously the case. We have preserved the decision-making method within DERK, as the law clearly states that decisions are adopted unanimously, not by majority vote as the Federation insisted. The law also specifies that the headquarters of Elektroprenos is in Banja Luka. We did not allow the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers to become the central ministry for energy at the BiH level, which is the Federation's eternal ambition, but rather retained its role as coordinator between the relevant ministries of Republika Srpska and the Federation," Košarac explained. He stated that he maintains the position that the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH should adopt the law on the regulator, transmission, and electricity market in BiH, noting that it is a result of joint work and harmonized with all levels of government in BiH, with the support of the Energy Community. If the SDS has a different view, Košarac added, they should explain to the public, especially the business community, why they support the introduction of CBAM /Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism/. "The opposition's false narratives about the supposed abolition of `ethnic voting,` as the EU has termed it, in the Competition Council and State Aid Council are truly laughable and utterly nonsense. Nowhere in the Growth Plan does it state that ethnic voting is being abolished. We will never abolish what is fundamental - ethnic and entity-based voting. That is the policy of President Milorad Dodik, the institutions of Republika Srpska, and its representatives at the joint level! I repeat, without Republika Srpska, there is no decision-making at the BiH level," Košarac stressed. Additionally, he emphasized, the correctness of our policy and insistence on preserving the constitutional capacity and competencies of Republika Srpska is also evident from the fact that the EU, at our request, abandoned the idea of adopting a services law at the BiH level. Instead, this issue will be addressed through the existing Law on Foreign Trade Policy of BiH and BiH legislation. "Here too, the position of Republika Srpska has been respected. Without Republika Srpska, there is no decision-making at the BiH level!" Košarac concluded.