Our Party (Nasa stranka) President Edin Forto claims that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has shown that Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is not a dysfunctional state, but that it was attacked from outside, that is that Russian mercenaries are trying to block the state in every possible way and present it as dysfunctional, Klix.ba writes.
In the interview, Forto spoke about the impact of the Ukrainian crisis on BiH, the upcoming elections, and electoral reform, and commented on the recent introduction of sanctions and the decision of the High Representative in BiH.
He points out that he does not agree with the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden, Ann Linde, who said that the Russian aggression on Ukraine ”overshadowed the Western Balkans.”
”On the contrary, I believe that Russian aggression has shed light on what is happening over the Balkans, and especially on Russian influence in BiH. For ten years, the international community has accepted the view that BiH is dysfunctional, and we see that Russian mercenaries are trying in all possible ways to block the state and present it as dysfunctional. Now we see what the agenda is and how it is done,” he emphasized.
Forto believes that there is no doubt that the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), led by President Milorad Dodik, is a Russian mercenary, and that there are meetings that confirm that, as well as long-term communication.
That is why Forto believes that the sanctions of the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome, but that he is not sure that Dodik and the President of the Republika Srpska (RS), Zeljka Cvijanovic, will have private damage.
Speaking about the upcoming elections, Forto claims that they must be held, but that they must also be implemented.
He believes that there is a lot of evidence about the integrity of the elections held so far, which is compromised.
”They can’t take our elections, because then BiH is not a democratic state, but something completely different,” said Forto.
In case the BiH Election Law does not undergo any changes, Forto pointed out that there are all conditions for holding elections. He claims that he will treat any new calls for negotiations on amending the Election Law only after the integration package is adopted, “which will somewhat reduce manipulation and theft of votes.”
E.Dz.