The Serb member and Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željka Cvijanović, stated to RTRS that at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels, she would present her views and those of Republika Srpska, emphasizing that she does not claim to speak on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina as some others have done.
- “At the Summit, I present my views, which I state very clearly. I was elected in Republika Srpska, and I speak from the position of Srpska, but I understand that for something to become the stance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it must be harmonized within the Presidency of BiH,” Cvijanović said after her meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in Brussels.
She highlighted that, while she does not aim to represent all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, her duty is to point out “what divides us within BiH” and emphasize that “the European path is what unites us.”
“And that is the only thing that unites us. It is something that should not be undermined but rather worked on,” Cvijanović added.
Cvijanović mentioned that today’s meeting was an opportunity to brief Kallas on two key laws adopted by the Council of Ministers, which have been forwarded for parliamentary procedure, and noted that further efforts on this front and the European path are expected.
She added that she had informed Kallas about issues related to the reform agenda and the growth plan.
Cvijanović pointed out that visa regime issues and reform of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina remain unresolved.
- “I expect talks to continue. These are steps forward, but I am aware that institutions at all levels in BiH, in line with their constitutional competencies, need to make final decisions, which should then be forwarded to the EU,” Cvijanović said.
Regarding her meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Cvijanović stated that she conveyed to Rutte that no one in BiH has the right to privatize the relationship with any international organization.
“The relationship with NATO has been privatized, as some have claimed they are relevant to speak on behalf of everyone,” Cvijanović stressed.
The Serb member and Chairwoman of the Presidency of BiH will participate today in the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels, at the invitation of the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Source: RTRS
