by Maja BJELAJAC
Although aware of certain shortcomings in the recently adopted BH Election Law, the co-speaker of the Chamber of Peoples of the BH Parliament, Nikola Spiric, tells Reporter that the advantages in the recent adoption of this legislative act nevertheless outweigh them.
Spiric: For the first time, we will elect government officials at all levels in accordance with domestic regulations. The adoption of this law also provides an opportunity for acceptance into the Council of Europe. The law also provides that all potential conflicts will be resolved in a democratic fashion. Thereby we are opening the door to potential investors to invest in this part of Europe. The negative aspects of the law are related to petty political squabbles; they will further intensify conflicts in BH. Of course, this isn't an ideal legal solution but the important thing is that a compromise is involved. Those forces that believed that they could bring back the picture of BH from 1990 were defeated.
Reporter: Would you comment on the initiative for the creation of a BH Constitutional Law?
The initiative of the BH Presidency that was accepted by the Council of Ministers to work on the creation of a BH Constitutional Law will represent the greatest threat to BH according to Dayton. The task group was given the explicit task of delineating the jurisdiction of the entities and the central state government, which isn't the purpose of a constitutional law anywhere in the world. This will open a Pandora's box. The head of the task group is [Croat] Kresimir Zubak, who is well-known for advocating the abolition of the Republic of Srpska. The provisions of the Constitutional Law as explained by Zubak attest to the fact that the intent of this law is to suck the authority out of the entities (which belongs to them in accordance with the Dayton Paris Peace Accords) and to transfer it to the level of the central government, which implies centralization. The most tragic thing of all is that the creator of this idea was [Serb] Zivko Radisic. The Serb representatives in the task group didn't even know that they were members even though the provisions of the Constitutional Law were already written. Radisic is claiming that this isn't a Constitutional Law at all but some sort of protocol. Something about "a member of the presidency according to protocol"...
Since you already mentioned Mr. Radisic, how would you assess the document on BH defense policy?
It's difficult to discuss Mr. Radisic because it's never clear what he has signed and what he hasn't signed. Whatever Mr. Radisic and his Presidency do becomes public knowledge after six months. I think he would be a good member of the Presidency if somebody would take away his pen.
Defense policy can be at the level of BH because it can consist of various segments. The problem is that it is being hidden from the eyes of the public and because of this citizens are afraid of defense policy and what it entails. If it's so good for the entities and BH as a whole, why is it being mystified?
Can you explain your initiative according to which Mr. Dodik would be a suitable candidate for minister of foreign affairs (in the Council of Ministers)?
It is harmful for RS to maintain the position that everything begins with elections and the current government. I think that Dodik would be most useful in that function although others in RS believe that Zlatko Lagumdzija would be better in it. Mr. Dodik was well received in the European countries and beyond. The language he speaks enabled him to hush up the representatives of the BH Federation who are not well disposed toward RS and to ensure harmonious relations between entities as well as within BH as a whole. Even though I was opposed to his government, I think that Milorad Dodik would be more effective that the entire present composition of the Council of Ministers. It's still not too late for that. But it is tragic that among us in RS the concept of hate and mutual exclusion is stronger than our love for RS.
Do you believe that Dodik is more suitable for the position of minister of foreign affairs than prime minister?
That possibility is also a good one: Dodik as prime minister and Ivanic and minister of foreign affairs. That is also better for RS than what we've got right now. Ivanic is well received by the international community, he is respected in the eyes of the Serb people, he's a pragmatist. I insist that all those who can work effectively in the interest of the people, the entities and the country work together instead of one against each other. We are always playing games of the victor and the vanquished until the final defeat. It is high time that those who don't want to work for the common good pack up and go home.