The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Staša Košarac, said that he wants to believe that the New Eastern Interconnection will not be stopped in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, after the Council of Ministers gave its consent to start negotiations with Serbia in order to conclude an agreement on the implementation of this strategic project.
Košarac pointed out that this would mean that literally two people, members of the BiH Presidency Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić, are blocking the development of both the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH.
“Citizens of the FBiH would certainly evaluate this as a policy of destruction and obstruction of development projects, but also preventing the creation of conditions for better ecological standards and clean air,” Košarac said in a statement to Srna news agency.
He noted that the New Eastern Interconnection is a strategic project for Republika Srpska, and that there is a realistic basis for one quarter, or 25 percent of its capacity, to be transferred to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily Tuzla Canton.
“To make the paradox even greater, Denis Bećirović lives in Tuzla. How will he explain to his fellow citizens in the most populous canton that he is against the gasification of Tuzla Canton? The negative attitude of two members of the BiH Presidency is a direct threat and will have a negative impact on every house in the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH , which could be supplied with gas from the New Eastern Interconnection,” said Košarac.
According to him, there is no justified reason for the negotiation delegation to be prevented from starting talks with the representatives of Serbia with the aim of concluding an agreement on the construction of the New Eastern Interconnection.
“For the umpteenth time, I will emphasize that the Republika Srpska and its representatives at the joint level have nothing against development projects in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are ready to support the Southern Interconnection as well, because we are aware that diversification and enabling more sources of gas supply mean long-term energy stability, development economy and a cheaper energy source for households,” emphasized Košarac.
If there is a blockade in the BiH Presidency, Košarac pointed out, Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić will bear the responsibility.
“If the obstruction of the New Eastern Interconnection continues, it will obviously happen that all projects will be stopped. The responsibility for blocking institutions at the BiH level will be on the two members of the Presidency of BiH, who will have to explain to the citizens and their voters why they are against development projects.” said Košarac.
