Cerić: Presidency members must freeze party functions

Seven days after announcing his candidacy for the Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency, Dr. Mustafa Cerić stated in an interview with Klix.ba, one of the most read portals in BiH, that this is something completely new for him. As he points out, he is now "starting from scratch." The man who, not widely known, is on the list of founders of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) in 1990, says it's not his first time "starting from scratch," reports the Patria News Agency.

- As a child from a mining family, I know very well what 'bread with seven crusts' means. Everything is new to me. I see that my candidacy has caused reactions, and I am glad about that. There are well-intentioned, but also other comments and reactions. This will neither make me conceited nor discourage me from doing everything I can to help my country. I am currently helping people affected by the floods in my own way, and that is my priority right now – Cerić said.

Furthermore, he emphasizes that the core of his action will be to try to "achieve the depoliticization of the members of the BiH Presidency".

- Because it is impossible for someone to hold the highest party and other positions while simultaneously being fully dedicated to the job of a member of the BiH Presidency. I will call on all candidates for the BiH Presidency from all three constituent peoples to commit to the depoliticization of the BiH Presidency by publicly freezing all their party and political duties while performing the responsible and honorable duty of a member of the BiH Presidency – Cerić stated.

When it was stated that critics claim that his victory in the elections would turn BiH into a religious state, and Bosniaks into a religious group, Cerić almost angrily rejects such claims.

- We have been listening to these stories and observations about a religious state and Muslims with a small and large 'M' for decades, and they have always come mainly from Belgrade, especially before and during the aggression against our country. We have regulated our state through the Constitution, and I really don't understand why I am being attributed such, I would say, supernatural qualities. All of this is malicious and aimed at my political discreditation. I will be happy if, as a member of the BiH Presidency, I can help my country and all peoples, using my authorities and mandate in the best possible way. If I succeed in this, then I have fulfilled my mission – Cerić added.

Commenting on the stance of the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, that RS will follow Serbia's stance, and that when the time comes, a referendum will be held in RS where citizens will decide whether or not they want to join the North Atlantic Alliance, Cerić said:

- As far as I know, this is the first time Milorad Dodik has publicly stated that his stance on BiH's entry into NATO depends on Serbia, i.e., Aleksandar Vučić. For Vučić to have the role of a regional reformer and a friend of BiH, which in my opinion is undeservedly given to him in Sarajevo, he should immediately, yesterday, publicly deny Dodik, or tell us now publicly, which he failed to do in Sarajevo, that he supports the state of BiH on its path towards NATO. Therefore, I hereby call on Vučić to publicly, loudly, and clearly state that he will not interfere in the state affairs of BiH, or rather, that he supports the entry of the state of BiH into NATO – says Cerić.

At the same time, he noted that some Bosniak politicians consider Vučić a friend and publicly express that they trust him, and "that Vučić should not be pressured too much to apologize to BiH and Bosniaks, and that his visit to BiH is enough".

- We do not need Vučić's apology. That is a matter of upbringing and personal morality. We are interested in his real political relationship towards the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as his respect for the rights of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And that means that from the perspective of the interests of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vučić should formally and substantially support, or rather not obstruct, Bosnia and Herzegovina's entry into NATO. Nothing more and nothing less. When he does that, then we can talk about whether Vučić is a friend to all citizens of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and whether we can eventually trust him – Cerić explained.