Bećirović to Sarajlić: You have a short memory

A heated debate erupted due to SBB's initiatives for the reconstruction of the BiH Council of Ministers, mostly between SDP and SBB MPs in the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, reports Patria's correspondent.

Denis Bećirović (SDP), who proposed that the dismissals of Lagumdžija and Osmić be removed from the agenda, stated after the SBB's decision that they had fulfilled 50 percent of his request and that this was not about blackmail but principles.

Mirsad Đugum (SBB) stated that they had always been principled and had clearly explained why they withdrew Osmić's dismissal.

- It is clear that we did that because then there would be no Bosniaks in the BiH Council of Ministers. Policies based on blackmail are not good. We argued why we are seeking Lagumdžija's dismissal; citizens simply demanded it - Đugum added.

Otherwise, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milorad Živković (SNSD), had to warn the MPs from SDP and SBB that it was only the debate on the agenda and that they should respect the procedures.   

It was particularly turbulent when this agenda item came up. The head of the SBB Club, Mirsad Đugum, immediately took the floor and reiterated that this initiative stemmed from citizens' demands, who clearly stated what they wanted in February.

- It was our responsibility to transform such demands into an initiative - Đugum said.

Mato Franjičević (HDZ) stated that their position was principled and identical to their stance during the previous reconstruction of the BiH Council of Ministers (the dismissal of the Minister of Security, Fahrudin Radončić).

- Behind the politicking behind such initiatives should be the interests of citizens and a better attitude towards the country. In that sense, we believe that any initiative for the reconstruction of the Council of Ministers must meet two prerequisites. The first is to ensure a clear parliamentary majority that will enable work in the interest of citizens, and the second is to ensure appropriate national legitimacy - Franjičević said.

He added that HDZ BiH would act responsibly towards the citizens in this case as well. Otherwise, at the beginning of this item, Zlatko Lagumdžija, whose dismissal was being discussed, also entered the hall.

Aleksandra Pandurević, an MP from SDS, stated that she believed SNSD would support Lagumdžija's dismissal.

- They previously said that Lagumdžija would be dismissed sooner or later, specifically when a majority was formed in the FBiH. Have we decided that people loyal to Lagumdžija will be appointed to Serb positions? No. Has Nermin Nikšić stopped blocking the establishment of the coordination mechanism? If so, then Lagumdžija has changed - Pandurević said.

Saša Magazinović (SDP) said that he might understand politics, but that this was a pre-election initiative.

- If someone's goal is to dismiss not the Minister of Foreign Affairs but the leader of SDP, then that is a lack of understanding of the constitution and everything else. Therefore, parliament does not elect the president of SDP. It is unbelievable that the initiative to dismiss the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been reduced to everything except a discussion about the ministry's work. And then I say that this is about revenge, which is impermissible as far as I understand - Magazinović said.

Đugum replied to Magazinović, stating that if it was about revenge, then it was the revenge of the people, not SBB, reports the BH news agency Patria.

Aleksandra Pandurević accused SNSD of having a pro-Bosniak, not a pro-Bosnian, policy. She stated that she met Ćamil Duraković, the Mayor of Srebrenica Municipality, last night, who said that Radomir Pavlović, the dismissed president of the Srebrenica Municipal Assembly, was a good man and worked well for Bosniaks.

 - And Duraković concluded that well. So you no longer have a Serb policy - Pandurević stated.

Slavko Jovičić from SNSD reacted to such words, stating that his young colleague was worse for RS than Lagumdžija and any Bosniak politician.

- You only want to bring down SNSD, and you want to do it now through Zlatko Lagumdžija. Let's not talk about your policy - Jovičić said.

Dušanka Majkić (SNSD), during the debate on the dismissal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Zlatko Lagumdžija, also quoted Fahrudin Radončić (SBB) who said, "you from RS can now choose the lesser evil."

- What should we choose now? It is clear that this is a pre-election trick. Four MPs here are trying to convince us that this is good. I think the intentions are bad. Because you withdrew the dismissal of Osmić because you saw that SDA would not vote for it. Let's get back to our work, and let's free the session from the election campaign - Majkić said.

Asim Sarajlić, head of the SDA Club, stated that this was about principledness, will, and desire.

- We have all seen everything in this hall. This mandate is passing, some say the locusts have eaten the years. We will support Lagumdžija's dismissal, and this would close the circle of dismissals. To talk today about the Minister of Foreign Affairs and how he communicates with the party's vice-president, how he communicates with Željko Komšić, with whom he was as one until yesterday, we will not talk about that. SDA will support the dismissal. May this never happen again in either the executive or legislative power - Sarajlić said.  

Bećirović stated that Sarajlić has a short memory and that he hoped he would say something more constructive.

- During your time, there were just as many dismissals - Bećirović said.

Saša Magazinović stated that SDA had supported the work of the BiH Council of Ministers at the committee this morning.

- I am saying this purely so that it is known when someone votes, for what reasons they will do so - Magazinović said.

Drago Kalabić (SNSD) stated that they would not take the opportunity to leave the Council of Ministers without Bosniak ministers.

- We are fighting for our equality here, but we will not take the opportunity to decapitate the Council of Ministers or leave it in national imbalance. We will not do that. There were statements from Lagumdžija that do him and his party honor, but similarly, there are statements from Mr. Bakir Izetbegović about some gatherings and festivals that are questionable - Kalabić said, reports Patria.