Bukvarević: March 1st is approaching, and citizens don't deserve their fighters to block roads

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Federal Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Disabled Veterans of the Defensive-Liberation War Salko Bukvarević said he hopes negotiations will begin with former fighters who blocked roads in the FBiH in protest today.

He stated at an extraordinary press conference this evening in the Government building in Sarajevo that the Ministry he heads allocates 315 million KM annually for resolving the issues of demobilized fighters, while cantons allocate an additional 60 million KM from their budgets. An additional 254 million KM is allocated from labor and social policy positions.

- Therefore, the FBiH allocates 570 million KM annually - said Bukvarević, emphasizing that the competent authorities were ready to talk with representatives of all veteran organizations this morning at 10 AM.

Some of the busiest roads near Sarajevo, Konjic, Zenica, and Tuzla remain blocked. Demobilized fighters of ARBiH and HVO are demanding their rights, which they have been pointing out for months in front of the Government building in a makeshift camp.

The House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet scheduled a session to discuss the demands of demobilized fighters. Protesters are demanding the public disclosure of the register of fighters receiving any veteran benefits, a veteran's allowance equal to the minimum pension for demobilized fighters with no income, and the cessation of funding for veteran associations, of which there are about 1,600 in the FBiH.

Due to the protest, traffic is interrupted at the following locations: the intersection of main roads M-4 and M-17 in Karuše, M-17 Žepče-Zenica (in Donja Golubinja), the Ivan mountain pass (M-17 Sarajevo-Konjic), the Šićki Brod interchange (Tuzla), the Blatuša interchange (Zenica), and the Vogošća interchange (Sarajevo).

- We absolutely invite them to come to the Government building or for us to go to them and talk. Tomorrow is March 1st, Independence Day of BiH, and citizens do not deserve their fighters to block the roads. I believe it is high time we resolve this issue exclusively through dialogue - stated Bukvarević.