The government spends tens of millions of BAM on lobbying, while pushing Republika Srpska (RS) deeper into isolation, stated the president of SDS Milan Milicevic, according to the SDS.
“The government in RS is once again shamelessly planning to throw citizens’ money into the black hole called ‘lobbying’. Another 40 million BAM, along with tens of millions already spent in previous years, is going into the pockets of foreign companies and intermediaries whose only result is the drastically worsened position of RS in the world,” says Milicevic, adding that this is no longer a matter of arrogance but of open theft.
“For years they have been convincing us that they are paying lobbyists to ‘strengthen the position of RS‘. And what have we gotten for those millions? Sanctions. Entry bans. Shame. Isolation. Public criticism from the most important international factors. Instead of open doors – a wall. Instead of cooperation – blocked development projects, blocked investments. And all this directed by one man who is fighting a personal battle, while sending all the bills to the citizens,” Milicevic said.
According to him, there is not a single piece of evidence of any benefit from these “representative offices” and “lobbying contracts”.
“RS is not developing, it is not receiving support, it is not attracting investments. But it is receiving new bills because this government is trying to pay for every crisis it creates itself with the people’s money. How much more money do you need to spend for someone to meet you in a hallway, and for that to be presented as a diplomatic success,” emphasizes the SDS president.
He says that all this should not be hidden behind cliches about “preserving institutions” and “protecting RS“.
“This is not a fight for the interests of RS – this is a fight for the bare political survival of a corrupt government that is leading us into debt slavery and deeper international isolation. The only institution this government wants to preserve is its seat,” he said.
Milicevic states that every new million for lobbying is a direct blow to the interests of the people and the clearest proof that this government is not fighting for RS but only for itself.
The National Assembly must not become a machine for “pumping money into a failed political adventure,” adds the SDS president, calling on all delegates to raise their voices against this shameful proposal, and on citizens not to allow themselves to be deceived again – “because this is not a fight for RS, but a fight of the regime for survival in the isolation they created themselves.”
Milicevic concludes that it is time for this to end. The citizens of RS no longer want to pay for someone else’s fear of the consequences of their irresponsibility and lack of political and diplomatic wisdom, he concluded.
