Izetbegović states: I did not agree with Čović on dividing the Veterans' Ministry

SDA Deputy President Bakir Izetbegović, in an interview published in today's Oslobođenje, responded, among other things, to questions about the merging or dividing of certain federal ministries, which HDZ leader Dragan Čović has been announcing in public in recent days, reports the Patria News Agency.

Did SDA and HDZ agree on dividing the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs into two sectors, merging the ministries of education and culture and sports, and dividing the Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Industry, as announced by HDZ President Dragan Čović?

IZETBEGOVIĆ: There was talk about potentially merging the Ministry of Culture and Education, considering the earlier decision of the Constitutional Court of the FBiH, but that idea was abandoned. Also, there is an idea to attach industry to the Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship, and Crafts so that the care for economic development is conducted in a balanced way and from one place. There will be further discussions on this idea.

There was no talk about dividing the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs. The only thing Čović and I agreed on regarding the work of this ministry, and this was in the presence of the leaders of the Federation of BiH, Marinko Čavara and Melika Mahmutbegović, is that we will protect genuine veterans and their rights in two ways: first, we will not allow those who do not belong there to use their rights and funds. Therefore, the revision will continue, and second, we will not allow any genuine veteran to have their rights taken away. Thus, there will be checks and previous revisions.

What is the problem with Zora Dujmović, since Čović negotiated equally with you, did you agree that HDZ would appoint a Serb minister in the Government?

IZETBEGOVIĆ: I did not. The agreement was that the Minister of Culture and Sports would be appointed from among the Others.