Konaković on Election Law: Only consider a signed document agreed upon, we think constitutional amendments are also possible

(Patria) - BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konaković spoke at today's press conference about the first year of his mandate in this position, as well as some political and other topics, given that the party he chairs is part of the state government.

Konaković, speaking about the visit of the European Union delegation led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stated that the conditions-laws for approving negotiations in March were not specified yesterday.

"The EC and the EU did not tell us exactly which law. We are returning to the 8 that were prescribed for us. It seems to me that we could do it. The Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities, state service, Frontex, the Law on Conflict of Interest, with or without the Law on Courts, it is the most controversial among us. These laws have no ethnic-political background. And if the topics are not linked, we are close to a historic breakthrough," said Konaković.

When asked if the proposal sent by the president of HDZ BiH, Dragan Čović, to the presidents of the parties forming the state government regarding amendments to the Election Law had been harmonized, Konaković said that "what the presidents sign" should be considered.

For Monday, the Trojka (Trio) has scheduled a meeting with all parliamentary parties in the BiH Parliament to discuss amendments to the BiH Constitution and the implementation of the judgments from Strasbourg.

He said that the issue of electing the BiH Presidency member from the Croat people must be linked to amendments to the BiH Constitution.

"The HDZ proposal has not passed nor has it been harmonized. We have sent our remarks. We have no problem with the Central Election Commission, and this political body must change. I also like mandatory voting, and we will see about the rest," he said.

Speaking about the functioning and financing of BHRT, he said that a solution must be found.

"We think that FTV should change the way it collects fees and distribute them differently to BHRT. Now, the very quick appointment of the management board at FTV is on the scene, and then the implementation of some policies. We have also seen what has been done at BHRT," said Konaković.

When asked by RTRS if he had instructed Ambassador Zlatko Lagumdžija to sign a document condemning the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the minister said that he had not given a special instruction, but that the ambassador had acted in accordance with the European Union's position.

"Lagumdžija acted correctly and in accordance with the Stabilization and Association Agreement. If he hadn't, he would have violated an international agreement because we treat that agreement here as law," he said.

Commenting on the actions of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković for not attending an official meeting at the BiH Presidency, Konaković said it was inappropriate.

"I would have been happy to see him there, so he could tell Komšić everything he has to say."

Regarding the position of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who clearly stated that there are no shortcuts for BiH and that it will have to fulfill its obligations, Konaković said that Rutte has the right to be skeptical that we will fulfill everything by the end of February.

"I think we will adopt some laws by the end of February, and then it is up to the EU. They lowered the criteria for Ukraine and Moldova as well," he said.

To a further question about the HDZ's proposal for amendments to the election law, which Čović claims was agreed upon by the leaders, Konaković refused to comment further.

"When politicians sign and deliver a signature, consider it agreed upon, do not consider anything else. We have the right to listen to the people around us, to hear reactions," he added, stating that the Trojka thinks that amendments to the BiH Constitution are now possible.

Speaking about the activities of the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Konaković emphasized the process of evacuating BiH citizens and their relatives from Gaza, and this has also been announced for Sudan. The foreign ministers of the Czech Republic and Hungary will arrive in Sarajevo in the next two days.