prijava
SARAJEVO, December 31 (FENA) - In a New Year's interview with the Federal News Agency (FENA), the Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Fadil Novalić spoke about the adoption of the 2021 budget, the fight against the pandemic, political support and challenges to his activities against the coronavirus.
*The budget proposal of the Government of the Federation of BiH for the next year was adopted in the House of Representatives, but not in the House of Peoples. What does this mean for the further functioning of the Government?
“There was no quorum for voting at the House of Peoples because some MPs, unfortunately, were prevented from coming for health reasons. We expect the budget to be adopted immediately after the New Year because it was passed in the House of Representatives, and everything proposed is realistic and achievable. As for the adoption of the budget at the House of Peoples, it is quite acceptable, and there will be no negative consequences if the budget is adopted in early January. The proposed budget will enable us, above all, to continue with the programs of stabilization and recovery of the economy, which are primarily aimed at preserving and creating new jobs. For these purposes, the Fund for Stabilization of the Economy is planned to receive 150 million KM, and an additional 50 million KM for the creation of new jobs. We are planning an additional 25 million KM for strengthening of the Guarantee Fund in the Development Bank. Also, we plan to regress interest rates for all users of the Guarantee Fund. So far, more than 85 million have been allocated for solving housing issues of young people. We launched this program in 2018 with Union Bank and we plan to continue it. For that, we have planned an additional 15 million KM from the budget next year, and Union Bank will also allocate 15 million from its own funds. So far, thanks to this program, 891 young families have bought an apartment, which directly helps young people, but also influences them to stay in their country. In addition, the indirect effects of this program are even greater, as all commercial banks subsequently lowered their interest rates. Considering the overall situation, I would like to emphasize that we have provided all regular transfers from the budget for the payment of vulnerable categories, pensioners, farmers, displaced persons and returnees, the Institute of Health Insurance and Reinsurance, transfer for veterans, war and non-war invalids. None of our citizens from any of these categories have any reason to worry, payments will be regular as they were regular during 2020, but also in the previous years of my mandate. In addition to this, the Government has provided 16.5 million from which compensation will be provided for parents of children with special needs. In the next year, we plan to provide support to lower levels of government through grant funds in the amount of 200 million KM for cantons and 30 million KM for municipalities and cities. These funds will be used to help maintain liquidity at a time of declining revenues, but also for specific measures to support the economy, which will be complementary to our measures. It is important to mention that we have planned 60 million KM for the support of health institutions, which is twice as much as was foreseen in the budget for 2020,” says Novalić.
*The coronavirus pandemic has caused serious economic problems in all countries of the world. Data on major economic consequences have come and are coming from the surrounding countries. How did the Federation Government deal with that?
“As I said in the Parliament, the new situation is a global problem and more than ever, coordination, cooperation and quick reaction of all economic policy actors was necessary in order to mitigate the economic consequences as much as possible. We in the Government have tackled this crisis by trying to stabilize the economy and create the preconditions for an accelerated recovery with the help of available instruments and mechanisms.
We implemented two sets of measures. We were the first to amortize the first blow to the economy through subsidies in the amount of 245 million KM, then the possibility of using earmarked funds, with the suspension of advance and income tax advances and the suspension of default interest on late payments, as well as the termination of forced collection. We have established the Fund for Stabilization of the Economy, but also the Guarantee Fund at the Development Bank. We also reacted by providing financial injections for the economy, providing 180 million KM in the budget. With the second set of measures, we provided liquidity support to the most vulnerable sectors, i.e. activities, job preservation, as well as providing support that was urgently needed to maintain competitiveness in the export-oriented sector. In addition to 90 million KM for these sectors, an additional 10 million KM was allocated to clinical centers in the Federation, which, in addition to previously allocated funds, was about 40 million KM of government assistance that should be provided to all citizens of the Federation through clinical centers. What this year has shown, that is, the problems we have encountered, is that we must be in solidarity and help each other. My obligation and duty, as Prime Minister, was to help everyone, all citizens, and therefore all cantons, cities and municipalities. We worked every day to monitor the situation and make the necessary decisions and measures, especially related to health, in order to make it as easy as possible for the citizens of the Federation to face the difficult circumstances in which they found themselves,” stressed the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH.
*In addition to all of the above is the fact that the year was marked by the affair regarding the procurement of ventilators that resulted in an indictment against you?
“So far I have not said anything about the indictment and I will not say anything at this stage. My team of lawyers has repeatedly informed the public about the (unfounded) accusations against me,” said PM Novalić.
*How do you comment on the fact that the public has been trying to create a negative image of you and your work for a long time?
“Nobody ever asked me that. You must have noticed that I never reacted and commented on the various attacks on me by certain media. I was brought up to respect people and to approach them with confidence. There is no person I have knowingly hurt, insulted, or, God forbid, humiliated. As Prime Minister, I have never commented on any politician or politics, let alone insulted or belittled anyone. I did not come to the position of Prime Minister because I belong to some influential lobbies, but because of my work results. And anyone can check it if they want to. I do my job the best I can and I am happy that we have results. The fact that I do not react to attacks, various half-truths and untruths, does not mean that I am not aware of who is doing it and why and for what interests. I am even being prosecuted, but I never thought of using my position and my knowledge to deal with anyone, although, as I said, I know very well who is doing what to harm or insult me personally and professionally. My family suffers the most because of all that, I try to protect them, but I do not burden even them, as well as my friends and business associates, because I believe in law and justice, but also in the truth that will come to light one day. Now I am in a situation where I have to deal with criminal law, but what I can promise to my family, friends and associates, as well as to all those who believed in me and gave me support, is that I will fight to the end for truth and justice. But you see how far it goes, it was reported in some media yesterday that the indictment was confirmed, my lawyers were not informed about it, nor was it confirmed by anyone. Whatever the decision, I will continue to fight for the truth, I will prove that I am not guilty of anything and how much untruth has been said about me. However, I am just an ordinary man of flesh and blood, and I cannot help but react humanely to certain media attacks aimed at making fun of me both as a man and as a prime minister. It is, somehow, perhaps even more difficult than when people are wronged. At the same time, of course, they have no arguments for that, and especially not proposals for solutions that would transparently correct our possible omissions in the procedure, or improve our work,” said the FBiH PM.
*You say that you became prime minister based on your work results, but didn't the SDA nominate you for prime minister?
“The answer to both questions is yes. And the SDA, which nominated me and is in power, is under pressure because of this situation in the country. I am proving my innocence with my team of lawyers, and I expect that the SDA will continue to fight for a professional and independent judiciary, while respecting the presumption of innocence. My task is to work as prime minister the best I can and I have the best results, and the SDA will ultimately give an assessment of its prime minister. I expect the Party to provide support to the work of the Government with all its mechanisms, as it has been so far, and that is the best answer to all those who destroy and obstruct the work of this government out of various interests. And the Prime Minister,” Novalić emphasized.
*Doesn't the president of the SDA continuously support your work?
“It is significant that President Izetbegović supports mine and the work of the Federation Government in these conditions as well. It may sound out of place, but the SDA president gives confidence and support to all elected officials, from the top of the state to the municipalities. We all have the same level of support, but some have understood that support as a mandate to be able to overthrow both the SDA and this Government from within. President Izetbegović has never interfered in any way in the work of this government, in terms of some influences or personnel decisions, as he does not interfere in others, and I will try to facilitate his and the position of the SDA in these very difficult times. I repeat, solidarity and togetherness because of everything that is happening in the country may be more necessary today than ever in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the Prime Minister said.
*Can you finally tell us when the citizens of the Federation will receive vaccines against COVID-19?
“The Council of Ministers on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as all countries in the world do, through the COVAX mechanism seeks to provide a vaccine for our citizens as soon as possible. After unnecessary misunderstandings, caused through no fault of the FBiH Government, we paid the required remaining funds within the set deadline. In addition, for the next year, we have provided funds for vaccines, which can be increased if necessary. While others are talking, we have already engaged in searching for other solutions in addition to the quantities we will receive through the COVAX mechanism. The Office of the Prime Minister has already received a letter of interest from a vaccine manufacturer, which I immediately forwarded to the competent Ministry of Health, the Institute of Public Health and the FBiH Institute for Insurance and Reinsurance, and I expect an immediate response from them. As the Prime Minister of the Federation, of course, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the citizens of the Federation receive vaccines as soon as possible,” concluded Novalić in an interview with FENA.
(FENA) L. N.
