The Special Rapporteur of the European Parliament for the Balkans Jelko Kacin spoke with the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Suad Zeljković last night in Sarajevo on the implementation of the “Sejdić-Finci” ruling, and amending the Sarajevo Canton Constitution to comply with the ruling.
Kacin said that Sarajevo Canton is a positive example of what officials have managed to agree on, and even implement something that the country has been dealing with for decades.
“If they are not able to agree on things that Sarajevo Canton was able to manage (even if it is the biggest canton) and implement, and the country is dealing with this issue for years, this is not some special message for countries in the region nor for the EU”, he said.
Kacin warned that EU institutions would reward those who try.
“We will not deal with those any longer who simply think that we bother them’’, said Kacin in Sarajevo.
The Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Suad Zeljković expressed his satisfaction that Sarajevo is “a shining example that sends a message to what the country should be doing”.
“Due to our organization, we are lower in the hierarchy. However, I am here to appeal to our institutions at a higher level to listen what we are telling them and to allow us to open doors for them wherever we can. We will solve everyday problems more simply in the Sarajevo Canton when we have the confirmation of the EU and verification of what we have already done’’, he said.
Zeljković specified that the implementation of the ruling in Canton Sarajevo, in the extension of activities, means the formation of a club of others, one vice-presidency in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly and a representation of the others, as it is called.
“They are officially called the others. However, they are not the others. They have their own names and last names. They have to gain in importance in terms of meeting their demands through political commitment’’, said Zeljković.