HDZ President Dragan Čović commented on the current political developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and addressed the most important issues such as the EU path, but also the Southern Interconnection.
In an interview with Dnevnik Plus of RTV Herceg-Bosne, Čović commented on the arrest of Security Minister Nenad Nešić.
“I would not go into connotations at all because I am not at all familiar with the case surrounding Minister Nešić. We will sit down with our partners immediately after the new year and put this topic, along with others, on the agenda,” said Čović.
Analyzing relations at the state coalition level, Čović said that most things were agreed upon at the meetings in Banja Luka, Sarajevo and Mostar, but that the problem is nuance.
“There are some nuances that remain that will become a big problem. If the atmosphere is good, if it is not disturbed by someone from the outside or by us among ourselves with some new step, I am convinced that we can end this within the first month,” said Čović, explaining that an agreement can also be reached on the Growth Plan and the appointment of a chief negotiator during that period.
Regarding the issue of the Southern Interconnection, which is the subject of many arguments in BiH, Čović said that an unnecessary climate of undemocraticism has been created around this story.
“This law in the House of Peoples will probably end up similar to the House of Representatives. The pressure that occurred in the House of Representatives and in the Federation Government will be transferred by inertia to the House of Peoples. We need to see what the legal remedies are, how to deal with it because we are not satisfied with it. Someone managed to mobilize all Bosniaks to support it. It is up to us to point out that this strategic interest can be realized in some other way; faster and more efficient, and to satisfy the interests of the Croatian people and, which is very important, to satisfy the interest of the division of constitutional jurisdiction in BiH. You cannot go through cities, municipalities, cantons, and not communicate that space in decision-making,” said Čović.
He said that the HDZ has solutions that it will also propose to its partners.
“I think we have very good solutions that can even reconcile some of the tensions that are coming to Sarajevo, primarily with the desire for this project to no longer stand. Our goal is to have another source of gas for BiH from the west and I believe that we will succeed in that very soon,” Čović emphasized.
Čović once again emphasized that there are no private interests in the project to build the Southern Interconnection.
“Our proposals so far have gone through a company that would be established as a public enterprise of the FBiH Government, and not any private enterprise. I deeply believe that we will have to find new ways of communicating with the new American administration in order to establish our place as it deserves; realistically in the relations between BiH and the smallest constituent people,” said Čović, explaining that this communication has been somewhat worse over the last 5-6 months because “you have not followed up on something.”
He also stated that he, together with the Prime Minister of the FBiH, Nermin Nikšić and his associates, agreed on the Law on the Southern Gas Interconnection.
“The next day, when the law was supposed to be unanimously adopted by the FBiH Government, my colleagues withdrew with a clear explanation of why they were doing it. Ambassador Murphy did not hide it and communicated it clearly in public in order to create that pressure. This is one of the tools that is not being used for the first time in BiH,” said Čović.
On that occasion, he also reflected on his relationship with Ambassador Murphy.
“Maybe it was me and Ambassador Murphy who communicated poorly. We met often and I expressed my views. He was very present in the media when it came to me. I had no right to respond to that in any negative way. That is not the approach I advocate. The policy I advocate is language that is polite, acceptable, and does not offend anyone – especially not a partner like the United States of America. I would tell him what he needed to when we were sitting together, and I never emphasized that in the media in any way,” said Čović, adding that some actors told him to respond to Murphy adequately.
In the end, Čović looked at the relationship between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and criticized Bosniak politicians.
“No one, regardless of what motives they do it for – including representatives of Bosniak politics, can complain to the holders of power in the Republic of Croatia that they are interfering in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here every day you have a representative of international institutions who has his own trip and activity in the executive or legislative power; influence on the adoption of laws and even on some personnel solutions. My encouragement to my friends from Sarajevo is to never underestimate a friend, to never look at a friend with other eyes than as a friend who wants to help us and additionally empower us Euro-Atlantic route,” Čović told RTV Herceg-Bosne.
