KOŠARAC: NO AGENDA ITEMS WITHOUT REPUBLIKA SRPSKA'S POSITION

ROGATICA, DECEMBER 5 /SRNA/ – Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac stated that no item will be placed on the Council of Ministers' agenda without the position of the institutions of Republika Srpska on that issue.

He reiterated that Srpska has a say in Sarajevo and that this will continue, regardless of whether the matter concerns the European path or any alleged urgency in adopting legislation. Responding to a question on how ministers from Republika Srpska will act at the upcoming Council of Ministers session, where the draft laws on the Court of BiH and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council /HJPC/ are expected to be discussed, Košarac said discussions on the two laws are ongoing and that he cannot prejudge the developments at the session itself. "We are holding working consultations, analyzing documents, and there are still a few days until Monday, we will see how we position ourselves," Košarac told reporters in Rogatica. Commenting on the EU's decision to accept the Reform Agenda document, Košarac stressed that it remains to be seen how the steps outlined in the document will be implemented, adding that nothing will be considered without clear involvement of Republika Srpska's institutions. He emphasized that the political structure gathered around the SNSD will not allow even a millimeter of competencies to be shifted from the level of Republika Srpska to the level of BiH. "I don't care how much money we might receive, that is not our concern," Košarac stressed. He said that the politics of Republika Srpska is the protection of its sovereignty, and that it is irrelevant what anyone in the EU might say. "In the Federation of BiH, there are those who view the matter primarily through financial incentives and who claim they will do anything for that money - that is not our politics," Košarac noted. Košarac also stated that the recent remarks by Minister of Defense Zukan Helez, which included a series of accusations against Member of the European Parliament Željana Zovko and senior research associate at the Heritage Foundation Max Primorac, are politically improper and worthy of condemnation.