Cormack in Washington: Dayton is an excuse for Bosnian politicians for corruption and state stagnation

A two-day international conference dedicated to reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, "20 Years of Dayton - Opportunities for Progress of Reform Processes in BiH" has begun in Washington, attended by entity prime ministers Fadil Novalić and Željka Cvijanović, as well as finance ministers Jelka Milićević and Zoran Tegeltija, US Ambassador to BiH Maureen Cormack, high-ranking officials from the US, EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina, then the diplomatic corps, as well as financial institutions IMF, EBRD, World Bank, representatives of the business sector and the academic community in the US.

In her address, Ambassador Cormack stated that the Dayton Agreement may have a complicated structure, but that corruption, patronage, and self-interest are not a product of Dayton.

- Complicated political structures use it as an excuse for lack of progress and an opportunity to trade jobs for votes - Cormack said.

Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH Fadil Novalić is one of the speakers and stated that the Reform Agenda did not include discussions on constitutional changes because "we cannot agree on them".

- We can and must agree on one thing: socio-economic reforms, nor can they harm any national, social, and interest group. We have changed priorities, and said let's solve what we can. A working document called Growth and Employment was created, the basis for moving forward. Colloquially speaking, this is European material, but it was focused on the economy, on what can relieve our difficult social situation at any moment - said Novalić, listing the problems: public finances, fiscal instability, competitiveness and business environment, labor market, social protection reform - pension system, rule of law and public administration reform.

He presented data that public administration in BiH spends 47% of GDP, which also affects fiscal instability.

- We need international assistance, we are available for any kind of help and we will certainly be good students and consumers.