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SARAJEVO, February 4 (FENA) – The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina discussed several technical issues, such as the adoption of agreements, credit arrangements for several municipalities, and several items on the agenda related to the appointments of ambassadors.
As BiH Presidency Member Milorad Dodik confirmed to the press after yesterday's session in Sarajevo, some of the items on the agenda were not discussed because there is no consent for them.
One of the things the Presidency did not discuss yesterday is the PISA survey results, and as Dodik said they did not put the item on the agenda because they are looking for a way to make Republika Srpska visible in that survey as well.
He requested that data be provided for the Republika Srpska itself, which, he said, has a separate education system, although he does not mind that the results are cumulatively presented at the BiH level.
He compared this with drafting of the BiH energy and transport strategy, which, he pointed out, was done separately on the entity level within the jurisdiction, and then a strategy was developed at the BiH level.
Therefore, Dodik does not see any problems with doing similarly for PISA research as education is the sole responsibility of the entities, or cantons in the Federation of BiH, he reiterated.
Another thing that the members of the state presidency disagreed with is the arrival of President of Montenegro Milo Djukanović on an official visit to BiH, as Dodik opposed it, citing current developments in that country regarding the adopted Law on Religious Freedoms.
BiH Presidency member and President of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), Milorad Dodik, confirmed that the issue of BiH's position on the path to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was open during yeterday's ambassadors talks with Presidency members.
He recalled the conditions for the activation of the Tallinn Membership Action Plan (MAP) when BiH was asked to register all immovable defense properties identified as necessary for future defense purposes as the state property of BiH, for use by the BiH Ministry of Defense.
“I cannot assure other members of the Presidency that we withdraw from the MAP, but the MAP does not have what is essential to activate it, which is the Annual National Program (ANP) because the Reform Program is not ANP even though there are those who want to present it so,” said Dodik.
He claims that some NATO officials have confirmed that the document cannot be used for integration, but can only serve as a document for partnership and cooperation.
He also commented the request of the President of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), Mirko Šarović, to convene an emergency session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, which would discuss the issue of BiH's position on the path to NATO, urging Šarović to do so himself if he has enough signatures.
He also spoke about meeting with ambassadors of EU countries and said that they discussed process of European integration, economic reforms and elections, especially holding local elections in Mostar.
He reiterated the SNSD's stance that it would support any changes to the Election Law "that would ensure that Croats elect legitimate representatives", saying it would "contribute to stabilizing BiH's political situation".
The chairmanship of the BiH Presidency is next taken over by Šefik Džaferović, who was boycotted by the SNSD during his previous term as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, accusing him of war crimes.
Now, journalists asked whether Dodik will attend sessions that Džaferović will convene, and Dodik replied that the SNSD did not forget it, but that they also did their best to determine Džaferović's responsibility.
“My responsibility for the work of the Presidency is solely for those who elected me, not whether Džaferović will lead the session. I have to participate in the work here in order to protect the interests of Republika Srpska and to contribute to making decisions that will be beneficial for all in BiH, and of course for us in the RS,” Dodik stated.
He said that "Džaferović did not correct his biography in the meantime," but he is very grateful to him for attending the funeral of his father, who passed away few days ago.
(FENA) A. B.
