PEULIĆ: BiH IS ABSURDISTAN

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, FEBRUARY 26, /SRNA/ - The chief coordinator of the Logistika BiH Consortium Velibor Peulić has stated for SRNA that if a new border crossing in Gradiška is not opened, the transport community faces the risk of additional costs, and production capacities from BiH could be moved to other destinations.

Speaking about the repeated votes against amendments to the Internal Organization Rulebook by Zijad Krnjić, a member of the Management Board of the Indirect Taxation Authority /UIO/ from the Federation of BiH, Peulić emphasized that it is absurd that one individual has the power to make decisions against the interests of BiH, describing the country as an "absurdistan". He stressed the need for adoption of amendments to the UIO BiH Internal Organization Rulebook. Peulić stated that the Logistics Consortium is still waiting for the UIO Management Board to adopt 18 points that were agreed upon with all business entities, including one that would allow the Gradiška border crossing to operate at full capacity. He noted that Gradiška is the most modern border crossing BiH has with the EU, yet the UIO Management Board has not enabled its technical operation. "If 919 transport units enter or exit during a day, that averages around 20,000 tons of goods. Currently, BiH is entering and exiting the EU on only one traffic lane. The load we face now is a minimum of 15 hours, and at times exceeds 27 hours for a single customs declaration," Peulić explained. If the new Gradiška crossing is not opened, he added, the transport community will face additional costs. "We will not be able to deliver orders within planned deadlines and will become unreliable suppliers," Peulić warned. The Office of the Chairperson of the UIO Management Board Srđan Amidžić told SRNA today that amendments to the Internal Organization Rulebook, which concern the start of operations at the newly built Gradiška border crossing, will be discussed at the next Management Board session. The newly built modern Gradiška border crossing was constructed according to European standards. The customs terminal and crossing cover an area of 110,000 square meters. The new customs terminal includes a central customs and border police building, facilities for passenger and freight control on the exit from BiH, detailed vehicle inspection, phytosanitary and veterinary inspections, customs offices, a freight forwarders' block, and control booths. The terminal has 120 parking spaces for freight vehicles and 100 for passenger vehicles. A restaurant is also located at the new terminal and crossing. The opening of the new border crossing between Croatia and BiH at Gradiška was scheduled for December 11, but was postponed after Krnjić did not support the rulebook amendments required to form the customs office and arrange customs staff.