A session of the Main Board of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) was held yesterday in Sarajevo. Following the session, the party’s president, Bakir Izetbegovic, addressed those present.
Izetbegovic commented on recent statements by the Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Zeljka Cvijanovic, regarding cooperation with NATO.
“Mrs. Cvijanovic stated that cooperation with NATO should continue, and the following day, the annual plan was submitted. It’s clear that the Serbian side is more open to NATO,” said Izetbegovic, adding that BiH is now in a candidacy phase for membership, not merely cooperation.
Speaking about the European Union’s (EU) growth plan for BiH, Izetbegovic emphasized SDA’s proposal that Brussels adopt a package of 113 reforms, with two key points highlighted – the amendments to the Constitutional Court and the abolition of the ethnic veto.
“What we proposed today is for Brussels to accept the proposal it was involved in drafting – those 113 reforms. The last two pertain to the Constitutional Court and the removal of the ethnic veto in the decision-making process,” said Izetbegovic yesterday.
He further clarified the party’s proposal.
“To approve the entire reform agenda, to approve the funds, but not to release them until these two issues are resolved. In this way, a clear message would be sent to the authorities in Republika Srpska (RS). It’s more necessary for the authorities in RS than it is for us,” Izetbegovic noted.
Izetbegovic also emphasized that SDA premiers have not backed down from these conditions.
“Our four premiers have not backed down from these two conditions, and as far as I know, neither has the Coalition of the Three,” Izetbegovic added.
At the end of his address, Izetbegovic responded to a question about his health, stating that he felt well.
“I feel good; I didn’t have any specific symptoms related to a pre-infarction condition. I decided to get checked since I hadn’t done so for a long time. They then determined it was necessary to do these ‘cleanings,’ and here I am, thank God,” Izetbegovic said in conclusion.
In response to a journalist’s question, he also mentioned sending a message to the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH (FBiH), Nermin Niksic, who is in the hospital due to appendicitis. This follows Niksic’s earlier remark that he reached out to Izetbegovic while the latter was in the hospital, but that Izetbegovic hadn’t contacted him in return, Klix.ba writes.
