HDZ BiH President Dragan Čović assessed that today’s meeting and conversation with SDA President Bakir Izetbegović was fair and pleasant. With that, he added, HDZ ends the cycle of talks with all parties that, in his estimation, have some political influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– We talked exclusively about what is today the political problem of the functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Everyone presented their views. We haven’t talked at this level for a long time. I presented my three points of view. There is absolutely no alternative to the European path, and I asked that it be considered regardless of who is in the position or in the opposition today. To open the negotiation process this year if possible. We also talked about peace and stability, to make our contribution. And we agreed on that. And of course, we talked about the equality of peoples. I repeated what I said before about the need for legitimate national representation, that the Croatian member of the BiH Presidency is predominantly elected by Croats, Cović said after the meeting held in Sarajevo.
He denied that this meeting was an announcement of a new coalition with the SDA. He said that the HDZ did not discuss it at all and that the meetings of the party bodies will be held at which preparatory activities for next year’s elections will be agreed upon.
– Our goal is for the existing Council of Ministers and the BiH Parliament to function to the extent possible until the end of the mandate. First of all, because of the European path, but also peace and stability. And everything else, we will see, Cović said.
The campaign, he says, started a few months ago in different ways and everyone is trying something in all three nations. It is important, he adds, to show responsible behavior by the end of this mandate. Referring to the relations in the current government structure at the state level, Čović said that HDZ’s partners are those who have the capacity to exercise power, and that in this respect the partnership will not change until the end of the election cycle.
Answering the question about the selection of the main negotiator for joining the EU, Čović said that one chamber of the state parliament cannot decide on this and that there are clear procedures that have already been initiated within the BiH Council of Ministers.
– Our position is that we should adopt the two remaining European laws, and then everyone sit down at the table and agree on how we will solve the issue of the chief negotiator. The negotiator is probably the simplest question, Cović said.
Referring to the relations in the current government structure at the state level, Čović said that HDZ’s partners are those who have the capacity to exercise power, including SNSD, and that in this respect the partnership will not change until the end of the election cycle.
When it comes to the Southern Gas Interconnection, Čović said that it is being intensively discussed with all interested parties, and he expects that issue to be resolved as well. He also assessed that some political agreement will be needed for the issue of state property, because the current solutions create major problems on the ground. He also called for the adoption of the state budget for this year, as well as for the next year, and added that in relation to allocations from the budget, the demands must be realistic.
