Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, claiming to be concerned about the citizens of Republika Srpska, accused SNSD President Milorad Dodik and Republika Srpska representatives in BiH institutions of redirecting funds from the Growth Plan intended for BiH to Albania and Montenegro, while falsely claiming that the money was free.
In fact, the funds largely consist of loans that Brussels conditions on reforms considered harmful to Republika Srpska. Konaković was told to keep his hands off Republika Srpska and that attacks on Dodik would not improve his party’s ratings ahead of the October elections.
Konaković is attempting to compensate for his loss of credibility over alleged links to the Tito-Dino international cartel, questions surrounding his diploma, failed lobbying contracts in the United States, his unfulfilled promise to remove SNSD officials with a “bulldozer,” and his disappointment over Christian Schmidt’s departure by launching new attacks against Milorad Dodik and Republika Srpska representatives.
Without providing evidence, he accused them of obstructing the implementation of funds from the Growth Plan for BiH.
“And that money, which should actually be coming to the BiH entity of Republika Srpska, he is sending to Albania and Montenegro. This is a message especially to you Serbs living in the BiH entity of Republika Srpska. Dodik, Amidžić and their associates blocked all reforms under the Growth Plan and said they did not want that free money,” Konaković said.
However, only one-third of the one billion euros under the Growth Plan consists of grants, while the remainder is provided through loans. The report argues that Konaković fails to mention that Brussels conditions the funds on reforms that conflict with entity-level competencies.
In other words, according to the report, Konaković is effectively offering the citizens of Republika Srpska €280 million in EU grants in exchange for giving up competencies belonging to Republika Srpska.
“They have a phobia of Mr. Dodik, and an even greater one because they failed to achieve their objectives. These are absurdities. Perhaps I happen to be in exactly the kind of institution that could determine what substance produces such nonsensical statements. Why is he interfering in Republika Srpska? What does he have to do with it?” Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić said.
Radovan Kovačević, a Serb delegate in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, questioned why Konaković was addressing the citizens of Republika Srpska.
“I read that Dino Konaković addressed the citizens of what they call ‘RS.’ For me, that is the end of the joke. Why is he addressing the citizens of Republika Srpska? The citizens of Republika Srpska neither know nor care who Dino Konaković is. Secondly, the citizens of Republika Srpska cannot help him reach that elusive electoral threshold in October,” Kovačević said.
The report argues that, as foreign minister, Konaković should instead have focused on the fate of a BiH citizen who died in a fire in Croatia or used the diplomatic contacts he frequently cites to facilitate the return of deceased mountaineers from Russia.
“His duty was to bring back the people who died in Russia. It is not enough to communicate with Russia through statements and pieces of paper. He should have gone to the Russian Embassy in Sarajevo. Instead of doing that, he participates in Russophobia, talks nonsense, fails to do his job and then invents people to blame,” counterterrorism expert Dževad Galijašević said.
Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović said Konaković’s obsession with Republika Srpska and its political representatives demonstrates how powerless Bosniak politicians are to respond to the growing challenges in the Federation of BiH.
Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac offered a brief response:
“Every day Konaković remains in power, there is less of BiH. So let him continue. He is doing an excellent job.”
Source: RTRS
