Izetbegović: Someone poisoned the relations between SDA and DF, but I don't know why

Deputy President of SDA Bakir Izetbegović told reporters in Sarajevo today that relations between SDA and DF were good from the very beginning, but that "someone poisoned them and it is not clear to him why", reports a reporter for the Bosnian news agency Patria.

- DF and SDA had good cooperation from the very beginning and made an almost historic turnaround when it comes to the state level. And then there was a strange twist in all of this, which I interpret as someone deliberately poisoning the relations. I and SDA never gave Mr. Komšić any reason to be angry with us and make such statements. Something hurt him, and it wasn't me, but some people who spread stories, and untrue stories - said Izetbegović.

When asked by a journalist whether perhaps someone from SDA did it, he did not specify, saying that it involves pre-congress activities of some people.

Izetbegović announced the next meeting of the delegations of SDA, DF, and HDZ BiH for Monday or Tuesday. Although he said he had not spoken with Komšić, he said he would not comment on the relations in order to help the continuation of negotiations.

- The deadlines for temporary financing expire on March 31, and new budgets should be adopted by the new government. For this coalition, I don't see a good alternative. We have every reason to form a government and do what we promised the people, we should all do it responsibly and seriously, and there is a great chance that it will end well - said Izetbegović.

When asked who is obstructing the relationship between SDA and DF, he said he did not know.

- Many are not happy with the stability of the state, the Federation of BiH. Obviously, someone is deliberately poisoning the relationship.

Izetbegović said that at this moment he would not speculate about alternatives and that this constellation of forces should go through the entire structure of the state.

He also said that the blockade regarding the formation of the FBiH Government could also affect the Council of Ministers.

- We can start forming the Council of Ministers without HDZ, but then that is a third crack, but I would hardly decide on that - he said.

When asked by a Patria journalist whether he had spoken with Željko Komšić in recent days, he replied that he had not, but that some other people from these two parties had spoken, so it is very possible that an inter-party meeting will be organized on Monday or Tuesday.

Denis Zvizdić, the mandate holder for the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, said that by the end of next week he will have the names of ministers that will make up the future composition of the Council of Ministers.

Commenting on the legal deadline until March 11, Zvizdić said that this term has no basis in the law related to the formation of the Council of Ministers.

- Everyone reads the original law, but they do not read the amendments to the law. We have enough time to conduct talks with all the parties that make up the majority by the end of next week and for them to submit their candidates. There is no legal deadline, but the Chairman should offer the names of ministers within 35 days, who then go for further checks and to the Presidency of BiH and the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH - said Zvizdić.

Zvizdić said that he does not think the formation of the Council of Ministers and the Government of FBiH should be causally linked, but that it is obviously being imposed.