CVIJANOVIĆ SATISFIED WITH REPUBLIKA SRPSKA'S PERFORMANCE, WHILE BiH HAS MOVED BACKWARD

SARAJEVO, JUNE 10 /SRNA/ – The Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović said that the current term has been highly problematic, damaging and nearly disastrous for BiH, while expressing satisfaction with the progress achieved in Republika Srpska.

Cvijanović said BiH has demonstrated a lack of trust and political maturity. "My term in the Presidency, which is never really mine alone, since it is a collective institution, has been both turbulent and intensive. There have been many developments, many trips, many discussions and many things that were ultimately accomplished," Cvijanović said. She stressed that BiH needs greater understanding and dialogue, as well as sound solutions and stronger development. "When I look at SNSD, at us here, at the work of the Republika Srpska Government, the President of Republika Srpska and the National Assembly, I am satisfied," said Cvijanović, also the SNSD vice president. She pointed to the absence of dialogue as BiH's greatest problem. Cvijanović argued that domestic politicians must take ownership of political processes rather than, as she put it, relying on external actors, as political representatives in Sarajevo often do. Commenting on the parties that make up the so-called Troika coalition, she said they had proven to be a rather unsuccessful government. "A politician must talk, a politician must find solutions. They placed all their bets on the EU," Cvijanović said in a statement to Avaz. She also referred to statements by Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Denis Bećirović, who has often said he speaks on behalf of BiH. "For every address I delivered to the UN Security Council, I clearly stated that I had not received a mandate from the other two members of the Presidency," Cvijanović said. She said that her political standing is strong enough to represent the interests of Republika Srpska without threatening anyone in the Federation of BiH. "Elmedin Konaković has torn apart foreign policy. In what country does a foreign minister block my letter while forwarding my colleague's letter to the same address? That is not a state; it is an abuse of authority," Cvijanović emphasized. Asked about the possibility of seeking another term in the BiH Presidency, Cvijanović said the matter would be decided within her party.