Heated Debates: Platform for Peace Divides MPs Again

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Deputies of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina today continued the regular session adjourned in May, and a new session is planned afterwards. Information on the PRO-Future project and the Platform for Peace, submitted by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, once again caused a heated debate among MPs.

Earlier, this item also caused heated debates, and even the decision on it was postponed.

After SNSD deputy Nikola Špirić said that the Platform should be discussed at other levels of government, SDP deputy Saša Magazinović took the floor and told his colleague not to "get agitated".

- Mr. Špirić, don't get agitated, it's not good for your age. When you saw Stalin as your idol, I wasn't even born yet - said Magazinović.

He reminded that this initiative came from the local level, and claims that mayors and city mayors from SNSD signed it, so he doesn't understand why SNSD is specifically against it.

​- You cannot impose your will in the PA BiH as you have been doing for the last four years in the RS, where you control life, and now it seems, death - Magazinović told Nikola Špirić (SNSD) during the discussion.

Nermina Kapetanović (SDA), replying to Nikola Lovrinović, said "that peace is not desired only by those who still advocate for divisions such as those present in cantons where two schools under one roof still function". To this, Lovrinović said "what you consider a division, I consider a right".

The Platform was also supported by all three members of the BiH Presidency, the Minister of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, Semiha Borovac, and more than 70 mayors of local communities in BiH.

"PRO budućnost" (PRO Future) is a project of the United States Agency for International Development /USAID/, which is implemented in 70 municipalities in BiH by the Catholic humanitarian organization CRS in cooperation with the Institute for Youth Development "Kult", Caritas BiH, Forum of Citizens of Tuzla, Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Banja Luka, Nansen Dialogue Centre Mostar, and the Interreligious Council in BiH.