“Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has a new government, but the formation of the government in the Federation of BiH (FBiH) is still blocked despite the decision of the High Representative”, writes the Austrian Standard. The paper also writes about Christian Schmidt, DW reports.
“Only 23 out of 42 deputies voted for the new Government (Council of Ministers), headed by HDZ politician Borjana Kristo,” writes the Austrian Standard.
”The new Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konakovic has no international experience, he is a basketball player and studied at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports in Sarajevo. The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Stasa Kosarac, a member of the ethnic-nationalist SNSD, was reported by his ex-wife for domestic violence. Security Minister Nenad Nesic, who will have access to sensitive data from now on, is the target of numerous criticisms, but he himself is accused of having contacts with the criminal milieu, which he, of course, denies,” Standard adds.
Nesic, the president of DNS and a former inspector of the Criminal Police, caught the eye on the day of the formation of the government because he showed three fingers both in front of the Parliament in Sarajevo and on public television, which was perceived as a nationalist provocation.
The Standard adds that it is interesting that representatives of the international community, such as the European Union (EU), the United States (U.S.), as well as High Representative Christian Schmidt, welcomed the formation of the coalition and even spoke of a ”reform government”.
Support by the U.S.
The paper recalled that the High Representative in BiH Christian Schmidt visited the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament last week. ”He received criticism because he used his powers and on election night, October 2nd imposed changes to the Election Law and the FBiH Constitution in favor of the Croatian-nationalist HDZ. The government of neighboring Croatia previously lobbied for such changes to the Election Law with Schmidt, as well as with the EU and the U.S.,” writes the Standard.
The text states that Schmidt was supported not only by Croatia, “but above all by the U.S.“.
BiH deserves better
The paper then writes that Schmidt’s interview with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament was closed to the public and adds that Schmidt received support primarily from the ranks of the European People’s Party, of which he is a member. ”On the other hand, other delegates asked him to withdraw his changes to the electoral law and clarify to what extent the Croatian government was involved, as well as to implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).”
Slovenian member of the European Parliament Klemen Groselj, from the ruling Freedom Movement party, said that Schmidt does not know which direction he wants to go.
“I don’t know what the matter is, whether it’s naivety, inexperience or ignorance of the region and the country, but BiH deserves better,” Groselj said, writes the Standard.
E.Dz.
