Komšić on Government Formation: We Are Looking for a Way Out of the Crisis, Dodik Will Have to Decide Which Direction to Take

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić told reporters today at a reception for Easter hosted by Cardinal Vinko Puljić that it is an obligation to find a way out of the situation in which BiH finds itself, i.e., in the process of forming the state government. 

"We cannot all always be winners. It is possible to appoint a mandate holder, with the understanding that in that case Mr. Dodik and the SNSD, excuse the expression, will have to swallow a bit of a frog when it comes to NATO. It is possible to reconcile these two things if there is a will for such an agreement. BiH is losing all these months, we do not have a formed government, in a way we are showing that we have fallen into a somewhat more serious crisis, both as a state and as a society, and we need to find a way out of it," said Komšić.

The president of the DF, who will participate in the government, said that a solution should be reached no later than mid-May, given the deadlines set by the European Commission for BiH. 

"What I can tell you is that I will do everything to achieve that. I am not one who conditions anyone. If the DF's election result had been better, I would be in a different position. In this situation, we have opted for some other things, primarily how to pull this country out of the situation in which it is stuck regarding government formation, mutual relations, and political issues burdening the entire society. From the aspect of the capacity we have, we will get involved in that," said Komšić.

Komšić also commented on the formation of the reserve police force of the RS, stating that no one will sit idly by.

"That is plan B, a backup plan. Plan A is to stabilize and calm the situation, to form a government and turn to work, not to rattle sabers. As a man who knows what weapons are, who has felt them on his own back, that is the last option in everything. It is better to turn to agreement, compromise, and work. The memories of everything that happened at the end of the last century are still fresh," said Komšić.

He said that the president of the SNSD, Milorad Dodik, feels the need to present himself to the international public as cooperative, as a man with whom one can work.

"He needs that because he was in deep political isolation for a time when it comes to the international community. On the other hand, he continues to build on his old story on which he won the elections, which apparently has traction with his electorate. The moment will come when he will have to decide which direction to take, whether to drive with the story from the Sarajevo Business Forum or to return to the past with the story with which he won the elections. I know that will not be an easy choice for him, but he will have to make that decision. I would recommend to him, if he will accept advice, in his place, I would choose this story from the SBF as a kind of his future policy. What he will do, we will see," said Komšić.