BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac received the Japanese Ambassador to BiH, Masami Kinefuchi, with whom he discussed current political and economic issues yesterday.
“At the meeting, it was pointed out that BiH and Japan are friendly countries, and that there is room for improving economic relations. Minister Košarac expressed his gratitude for the overall help and support that Japan provided to the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the reconstruction in the post-war period” according to the Ministry.
The interlocutors exchanged opinions on the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a focus on the work of the new convocation of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Minister Košarac informed Ambassador Kinefuči that the representatives of the Republika Srpska in institutions at the BiH level advocate a policy based on the consistent application of the Dayton Peace Agreement.
“Republika Srpska is for constitutional BiH, not for BiH that will be modeled by different international representatives. This is our clear position and defined policy from which we will not deviate,” Minister Košarac said.
“He also reminded that the institutions of Republika Srpska and its representatives do not recognize the “German citizen” Christian Schmidt as a high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, since his appointment is contrary to procedures and international law,” it is stated.
According to him, it is necessary to close the Office of the High Representative in BiH as soon as possible, especially due to the fact that BiH received candidate status for EU membership.
“We appreciate that in the future it is necessary to affirm the solutions that will be the product of the agreement between the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to the issues that fall under the jurisdiction of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We insist on respecting the letter of Dayton and its consistent application. We are absolutely opposed to any kind of interventionism,” emphasized Minister Košarac.
He pointed out that EU integration is a defined foreign policy goal of BiH, and that there is a determination to implement certain European standards.
“Equally, I will emphasize that we were often subjected to some political blackmail by EU representatives,” added Minister Košarac.
The meeting discussed the implementation of a project whose goal is to strengthen the capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and which is financed by the Japanese Government.
“We are grateful for the support that Japan provides us within this regional project, which includes all the countries of the Western Balkans. About 80 experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been engaged in the project, whose goal is to train local companies to apply higher standards in the provision of services and organization,” emphasized Minister Košarac.
He informed Ambassador Kinefuchi about the decision on the temporary suspension and temporary reduction of customs rates for the import of new electric and hybrid cars, considering the fact that in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are a large number of such vehicles originating from Japan.
It was pointed out that it is of crucial importance to ensure the continuity of the application of that decision, which was jointly assessed as positive from the aspect of environmental protection and green policies.
Minister Košarac pointed out the importance of continuing the development of the energy sector and strengthening capacity in the production of electricity in Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a focus on the construction of the “Buk Bijela” hydroelectric power plant, and the signing of the agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Croatia on the construction of the eastern and southern gas pipelines. interconnections.
“Unfortunately, certain political structures from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina blocked the implementation of strategic projects in Republika Srpska for purely political reasons, which is a completely unacceptable practice,” Minister Košarac emphasized.
He expressed the expectation that the new structure of political representatives from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will support strategic projects Republika Srpska, which will benefit all citizens and the economy as a whole.
“Republika Srpska is ready to support development projects in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because we do not want to stop development. However, we will not allow the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to block our projects. If, however, this is the case, we will proceed in the same way,” Minister Košarac concluded, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.
