LOZO: STANIVUKOVIĆ IS POLITICALLY FLEEING BANJALUKA, WHICH IS IN CATASTROPHIC STATE

BANJA LUKA, MAY 26 /SRNA/ – By exploiting certain social categories and engaging in personal political marketing, Banja Luka Mayor Draško Stanivuković is attempting to politically escape from a city that is in a catastrophic condition, assessed Aleksandar Lozo, socio-political affairs adviser to the Republika Srpska prime minister.

Lozo stated that Stanivuković evidently sees a way out in running for the office of Republika Srpska president, but that he should have concrete accomplishments behind him to do so. "He has left behind promised achievements and unfinished projects that were completed or are being completed by the Republika Srpska Government, such as the bridge in Česma, the roundabout…," Lozo said at a press conference. He stressed that the condition which Banjaluka City is on is the best political reflection of Stanivuković's leadership. "Of course, there are also certain complexes which, when they take over, lead to a lack of political correctness. From a political standpoint, this is understandable to a certain extent, considering that this is an election year, but certain categories of society whose problems are being addressed by the Government of Republika Srpska must not be subjected to political misuse," Lozo said. He stated that dairy farmers, war veterans, pensioners, parent caregivers, and socially vulnerable population groups had been subject to exploitation and personal political marketing by certain opposition politicians, primarily Stanivuković. Lozo said that the Republika Srpska Government remains open to dialogue with all social groups, and that good solutions are found through dialogue and cooperation, such as the law that systemically resolved war veterans rights. He added that political interference had caused divisions among those social groups. "These categories of society must not be used for political marketing and abuse. The Government is open and ready to engage in argument-based discussions, respecting expertise and the beneficiaries of certain rights," Lozo said. He also noted that he personally is often criticized by opposition representatives, including Banja Luka Mayor, mentioning the Mine and Thermal Power Plant /RiTE/ Ugljevik being operational today as the reason to blame him. Lozo recalled that he was part of the team that worked on transferring concession rights for coal exploitation at the Istok Two deposit from the Comsar Energy Company to RiTE Ugljevik, adding that the main objective had been achieved - ensuring that RiTE remained connected to the grid and producing electricity. "If it were not on the grid, that would be the main topic today, and they would not be using the social categories I mentioned," Lozo said. He added that the performance of all enterprises whose operations the Government of Republika Srpska had improved in recent years had been criticized by the opposition, which he described as legitimate, while reiterating that specific social groups should not be politicized.