Blinken warned Konaković: 'Pressure Čović and establish the southern gas interconnection'

(Patria) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković to pressure HDZ leader Dragan Čović to urgently adopt the law on the southern gas interconnection, Istraga.ba has learned.

"I encourage you and others in your government to pressure the leader of the HDZ of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dragan Čović, to end his obstruction on this matter.

Čović's demands for the formation of a new transmission system operator in the Federation are duplicative, economically unsustainable, and jeopardize the entire project.

Such obvious corruption and self-dealing could jeopardize Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to the EU," Blinken stated.

The letter is dated January 11, and the BiH Foreign Minister has not informed the public about this. Blinken sent a letter of a similar nature to Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman.

"As we have discussed," Blinken began his letter, "the United States is deeply committed to supporting stability, security, and regional economic integration in the Western Balkans.

The southern interconnection gas pipeline project between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is crucial for your energy security and accelerating the phase-out of coal".
However, the US Secretary of State further writes, persistent delays in this critical project threaten its realization.

"We call on the House of Peoples of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt the Law on the Southern Interconnection, which was drafted in consultation with international experts and represents a key step towards licensing, financing, and construction of the pipeline.

BH-Gas, the transmission system operator in the Federation, must implement this project to ensure the much-needed energy security for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We encourage the company (BH GAS) to undertake the necessary management reforms to empower it to serve all residents of the Federation.

Given that this project is in the clear interest of your country and the region, I encourage you and others in your government to pressure the leader of the HDZ of BiH, Dragan Čović, to end his obstruction on this matter.

Čović's demands for the formation of a new transmission system operator in the Federation are duplicative, economically unsustainable, and jeopardize the entire project.

Such obvious corruption and self-dealing could jeopardize Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to the EU," Blinken stated.
Your clear message to Čović, Blinken writes to Konaković, that the Law on the Southern Interconnection, adopted by the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2021, should be adopted without delay, is of vital importance.

"I am sending the same request to Croatian Foreign Minister Grlić-Radman, and our embassies will follow up on this.

We look forward to our continued work on strengthening your energy security not only by diversifying energy routes but also by diversifying energy sources to advance the commitments made at COP28 to triple renewable energy globally and transition away from fossil fuels.

These joint efforts will ensure even greater energy security for your countries," the US Secretary of State wrote in a letter to the BiH Foreign Minister.