\u201cWe want the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be settled, that BiH becomes a member of the European Union. We have to work towards that. An opportunity has now arisen that should be put to good use. All right, let Ukraine get candidate status, but Ukraine has huge problems, so does Moldova. This is an opportunity for BiH to be granted candidate status, as an act of trust and hope. Who can be against that?\u201d, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107 stated at a press conference held prior to a session of the Council of the European Union during which Ukraine and Moldova should get EU candidate status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reminded that the chairman of the House of Representatives Neboj\u0161a Radmanovi\u0107 and the chairman of the House of Peoples Dragan \u010covi\u0107 on Wednesday sent a Request for granting candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that Slovenian President Borut Pahor also sent a letter with the same request. He explained that this was arranged with President Pahor at the Trilateral meeting on Brijuni islands, and he was also supported by Federal Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. This matter was discussed too at the conference in Ohrid last week. Asked why he did not also sign the letter, President Milanovi\u0107 answered: \u201cIt\u2019s as though I did, who started talking about this matter if not I. We concluded at Brijuni that it is better for Borut to sign it. He will make the proposal, I will support him because I initiated it. So that others see how Slovenes think. It was a tactic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The President also talked about the reasons why he feels BiH should be granted EU candidate status. \u201cBiH is left to itself. The international community in BiH has brought it to its knees, and we are now requesting that in a unique moment, not to be repeated, BiH is lent a hand. But it cannot. Why not? Let Plenkovi\u0107 explain this. There are evidently some priorities. Are they his personal priorities, is it personnel policies of installing his assistants for salaries of seven, eight of ten thousand euros, is it fear that it will jeopardize Croatia\u2019s entry into Schengen and the euro? Let him say that entry into Schengen and the euro are more important than peace and order in BiH and the fate of the people who live there. If Plenkovi\u0107 would speak frankly, we could sit down and discuss to see what would be the danger if that happened\u201d, President Milanovi\u0107 stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since BiH is being conditioned to amend its election law, he warned that \u201cthe predominantly political group in BiH is obstructing and will obstruct this until the last day\u201d. To condition BiH for obtaining candidate status with a reform of the election law is in his view \u201ccynicism\u201d. The only person who currently can solve the issue of the reform of the election law is the High Representative of the International community Christian Schmidt, the Croatian President claims, and he can do so by using the so-called Bonn powers, and say like so many times before \u2013 that’s the law, and the basis for this is the ruling of the Constitutional Court of BiH. \u201cJust as he has imposed the decision on the financing of the elections in BiH\u201d, the President reminded, and added that by amending the election law he \u201cwould be doing the right thing\u201d. Convinced that the High Representative is not acting autonomously, but that someone is \u201cgiving him cues and tips\u201d, the President added that the Americans should tell him to do so, and the problem with the election law would be solved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The President of the Republic once again criticized \u201cthe international community\u2019s level of ignorance and lack of understanding of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a Central European country\u201d. He also blames the Croatian diplomacy for this. \u201cThe criminal inertness of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has led to the present state. Why do all those with whom I speak show incredible ignorance about BiH? The Finnish Prime Minister doesn\u2019t even know that BiH has already requested candidate status. Whose job was it to convey this message to the Office of the Finnish Prime Minister at least in the past month? The work is not being done so that it does not compromise someone\u2019s personal plans\u201d, President Milanovi\u0107 stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked what he expects from Prime Minister Plenkovi\u0107 in this situation, he replied: \u201cI don\u2019t expect anything, his behaviour and his actions indicate that he won\u2019t do anything. But it\u2019s my obligation to say this\u201d. Journalists were interested in hearing his view on which of the countries mentioned deserve candidate status. \u201cThey all do. For Ukraine I say \u2013 it can because the reasons are political, there are no technical conditions. And it should not be tied to these criteria, it will never meet them. Neither will BiH. And one should turn a blind eye in BiH\u2019s case\u201d, he replied.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cWe want the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be settled, that BiH becomes a member of the European Union. We have to work towards that. An opportunity has now arisen that should be put to good use. All right, let Ukraine get candidate status, but Ukraine has huge problems, so does Moldova. This is an opportunity for BiH to be granted candidate status, as an act of trust and hope. Who can be against that?\u201d, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanovi\u0107 stated at a press conference held prior to a session of the Council of the European Union during which Ukraine and Moldova should get EU candidate status.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":17973,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-17976","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n