Izetbegović: Members of the BiH Presidency should not be party presidents

SDA leader Bakir Izetbegović said that a meeting between him, Fahrudin Radončić, president of the SBB, and Dragan Čović, president of the HDZ BiH, will take place when Čović schedules it, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

- Last time I unfortunately did that unsuccessfully, and I hope this time it will be more successful. So it's up to him.

When asked by a Patria journalist whether he had gotten over his anger towards Mr. Čović, Izetbegović said that „there is no anger in politics.“

- In politics, there are only rational and irrational emotional decisions. I think emotional ones are of no use to anyone or anything. Only rationally can we move forward. Without a correct relationship between Bosniak and Croat representatives, there is no progress for this country.

Speaking about the Coordination Mechanism, which was agreed upon with Milorad Dodik, president of the SNSD, on July 31 in East Sarajevo, Izetbegović said that for him it is „a resolved matter.“

- The Coordination Mechanism is resolved. It was said that the Federation of BiH will be represented by the Federation and the cantons. If someone needs details, we will add the names of the cantons. If we need to meet that formal requirement, let it be so.

The Council of Ministers of BiH should adopt the Coordination Mechanism at a session on August 17 or 18. Izetbegović said he does not know if he will meet with Čović before that.

- I haven't spoken to him in about 10 days. It's up to him. I am left to trust my own eyes and the messages we exchanged, but I will believe Mr. Čović that it was a misunderstanding.

Izetbegović also very openly answered the question of what he thinks about the initiative to ban members of the BiH Presidency from holding party functions.

- That is not a bad idea, it would be good. We all should do what the Constitution obliges us to do, to represent all citizens, so that our actions are not felt by party or national affiliation as much as possible – said Izetbegović.