Begić: Ignoring NATO decisions is a threat to stability

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - For SNSD to be valid for talks on the new convocation of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it would need to align its political activities with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as with valid laws, such as the Law on Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Article 84 of that Law explicitly states: "The Parliamentary Assembly, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Presidency, and all defense entities, within their constitutional and legal jurisdiction, shall undertake the necessary activities for the admission of Bosnia and Herzegovina into NATO membership."

- Therefore, this is not about any political blackmail by Mr. Željko Komšić, member of the BiH Presidency, but rather a call for SNSD to respect the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and valid laws, stated Professor Zlatan Begić, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH (DF – GS, Željko Komšić: BiH wins!). Political blackmail accompanied by violations of constitutional and legal norms has unfortunately become a constant in the political activities of SNSD and SNSD's anti-NATO partners – HDZ and Mr. Dragan Čović.

 “How can anyone committed to the principle of the rule of law support a candidate for the Council of Ministers who comes from a political option accustomed to acting outside and against the BiH Constitution, i.e., not respecting constitutional and legal norms and the constitutional jurisdiction of state bodies?

This is an important issue that we, as a legalistic party, will insist on until the end. It would be good for Ms. Željka Cvijanović, as a high entity official, to finally familiarize herself with the provisions of the Constitution and laws of the state within which she has held the highest positions for many years, especially with the provisions of Article III/5 of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning the competencies of the state level of government,” said Professor Begić.

 Likewise, Professor Begić adds, when Ms. Željka Cvijanović speaks about the resolution of the BiH entity of Republika Srpska on military neutrality, she and all her associates should be clear that this is an unconstitutional act in its content and, as is clear even to legal beginners, is legally non-binding in its form, and therefore cannot be considered an act that would derogate from or circumvent the aforementioned provisions of the BiH Constitution and Article 84 of the Law on Defense of BiH.

Insisting on the opposite approach, in addition to being a continuation of cheap turbo-nationalist politics, is also legally unacceptable – and therefore a politically irresponsible act towards all citizens of BiH, and it is a threat to stability and peace in BiH and the region.

 “If non-binding acts could be challenged before the Constitutional Court of BiH, we would gladly do so, thereby opening a new chapter of the Constitutional Court of BiH's work, where there is a dire need for unconstitutional acts from the BiH entity of Republika Srpska and the entity's Constitutional Court there to be repealed as soon as possible.

Similarly, a very interesting issue will concern the consideration of the Annual National Program from NATO's MAP program, where we are very interested to see how the current ministers will vote at today's session of the Council of Ministers – whether in accordance with the state Constitution and the valid Law on Defense of BiH, or in accordance with a non-binding act from one of the BiH entities.

Let us remind Željka Cvijanović that the unconstitutional and illegal work of ministers in the Council of Ministers is a punishable offense for which one can and should be held accountable before the competent judicial bodies, which we will certainly insist on,” concluded Professor Zlatan Begić.