HDZ and Čović will not blindly follow Dodik: What Nikšić, Konaković and Forto promised for the new coalition at the state level

By Amra Vrabac

If anyone ever expected Dragan Čović to say the sentence: "Milorad Dodik and SNSD are no longer our partners", let them put that hope and expectation aside for some other time.

"Don't expect me to criticize anyone. I am not that kind of politician, and I will politely tell everyone whether something is good or not," Čović said at today's press conference after the meeting with the leaders of the Trojka parties in Mostar.

Dragan Čović did not utter the name Milorad Dodik or mention SNSD at any point during his address.

Today's address revealed only one new fact, which is that HDZ will hold talks with representatives of the opposition from RS tomorrow. However, that meeting will be far from the public eye, and as Čović announced, they will maintain such a practice in the coming days while other talks, negotiations, and joint meetings are ongoing.

During today's press conference, Čović repeatedly emphasized respect for the laws and the Constitution of BiH, and he said:

"We want peace and stability, as someone has raised the issue of peace and stability. We want the institutions of BiH to function. Today, we already have institutions that are starting to make independent decisions, and of course, we are not prepared to blindly follow those who make independent decisions at any level on any issue, especially when the institutions of BiH are being undermined. We have not expelled anyone from power; someone is expelling themselves from the agreement we reached. If we manage to reach an agreement, I will be happy, but what if we don't succeed?", said Čović.

Nikšić added, emphasizing that SNSD excluded itself from the coalition with the moves they made.

The key issue at today's talks between Trojka and Čović was the opening of the Election Law issue, which must be resolved before the next elections. Also, Trojka received a wish list regarding the Federation of BiH. Although they did not reveal details, Čović said that what has been pending for a long time will soon be before the Government and parliaments.

Regarding potential changes in the Council of Ministers of BiH, Čović, in his usual polite manner, delivered a "polite slap" to Trojka because they sent the appointment of Nebojša Vukanović as the Minister of Security of BiH for procedure without an agreement with HDZ. Yesterday, the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Borjana Krišto, stated that she would not propose the appointment until a political agreement is reached.

"I also told the previous partner not to make decisions and then inform us. If we are partners, let's agree, make a decision, and then implement it together. The same applies to Trojka; do not call us to confirm your decisions. If we are partners, then we should negotiate. If we reach a situation where we make a new agreement, then we will sit down and discuss personnel solutions. Until then, those solutions are not on the table as far as HDZ is concerned. If we reach such a situation, we need to see who the people are who can take on certain positions they haven't held before, regardless of who it is," said Čović.

Of course, Čović's address could not pass without optimism, as he announced the adoption of two more laws, the appointment of the chief negotiator with the EU, as well as the adoption of the Budget if "we want to stay on the EU path and if the European Union, in complex security and geopolitical circumstances, does not lose interest in small nations and small countries like BiH."