47 bouquets a day

by Slobodan VASKOVIC and Goran DJOGIC

Reporter, Banja Luka, Srpska, B-H, June 21, 2000

The self-praise of the RS government regarding its role in the enhancement of democracy must take the back seat when we look at the successes of the cabinet of Milorad Dodik in the enhancement of horticulture. The prime minister and his closest associates worked so hard on the improvement of that field that they failed to include both the invested results and the money spent to achieve them in the report on the work of the government. Because, who would believe that it is possible to spend in 1999 alone 322,100 convertible marks (KM) on the line item "nonmaterial expenses - flowers"?

It turns out that the cabinet of ministers is spending 26,841 KM on gerbera, rubber plans, philodendrons, begonias and petunias every month. Under the campaign slogan "Flowers for the flowers" the prime minister and his associates spent 1,167 KM per day.

Horticultural cabinet: If one takes into account the fact that the price of an average bouquet is 25 KM, Dodik's cabinet, according to the confidential report on the work of the government regarding expenses in 1999, sent out 47 enormous bouquets every day - every work day, that is.

Since no one in the government building has yet noticed the existence of gardens of paradise, the question presents itself regarding the whereabouts of the flowers, that is, of the money. Assuming that there are far too many people who are allergic to pollen, Milorad Dodik and associates have decided to remove the report far from the eyes of the public.

However, they had no problem transferring last year's strategy to this year as well, when, during the first three months, they spent a further 67,148 KM and 80 pfennig [1KM = 100 pfennig] on the same item in a slightly different wrapping - "other community services - flowers".

We need to check if the price of flowers has fallen on the world market because the premier's "horticulturalists" have been spending less in this year: they have spent "only" 22,382 KM or 1,000 KM a day.

Representation allowance: Since they are already located in virtual hanging gardens of Semiramis, Milorad Dodik and associates certainly deserve complete comfort which presupposes the consumption of good food and good drink. 1,120,650.43 KM were squandered toward that end, humbly termed "representation allowance". This means that 93,387.50 KM ended up in the stomachs of officials serving on Dodik's cabinet or 4,060 KM per day.

The premier and his team have decided to maintain their good image this year as well. During the first three months of the current year they spent 318,968.63 KM on representation allowance or 106,322 KM per month.

Field trips: When they tire of domestic specialties, representatives of the domestic elite switch to an international menu. This is called "cash advances for official business abroad". Last year 1,219,347.10 KM was spent on this basis, of which 628,109 KM without authorization. Did the generous members of Dodik's cabinet leave this as tips to waiters under the slogan "Everything for a better Srpska - A better Srpska for everyone". To this amount we need to add the expenses for official trips abroad totaling 354,515.57 KM. Of course, our local "goodwill ambassadors" will travel the world over in luxury vehicles costing another 324,195.42 KM.

So who then has the right to ask why the Prime Minister tells the people that they can elect a horse to office if they want.

Ministers

Another 250,200 KM is recorded in the secret report of the government under the code name "other expenses". There is nothing controversial here even though this is not compensation for earthquakes, flooding or other catastrophes but compensation to ministers for their "self-sacrificing" work. This compensation, of course, is in addition to their regular pay and is equal to 1,000 KM per minister. At least, that's what it was in 1999. This year the "honorariums" have thickened significantly - now Kremenovic, Suzic and the rest get as much as 2,000 KM for the same thing.

[Translator's notes: 1 BAK (or KM) is approximately equivalent to USD 0.48 or EUR 0.51. The average monthly salary in RS (for the approximately 50 percent of the work force who are employed) is approximately 150 KM. The RS government recently paid its citizens pensions and disability payments for the month of February.]

Translated by Snezana Lazovic (June 23, 2000)