Konaković convinced he 'got rid of' Dodik, so he doesn't care where the seat of the Appellate Division of the Court of BiH will be

By: Amra Vrabac

Two so-called European laws have been on hold for months: the Law on the Court of BiH (or courts) and the Law on the HJPC. While the Law on Courts still has the disputed seat of the Appellate Division of the Court of BiH and some jurisdictions, the Law on the HJPC has received numerous objections from the judiciary itself. This law will also be discussed at the next HJPC session in the first week of September.

After the last session of the Council of Ministers of BiH, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Elmedin Konaković, also spoke about these laws. Although these are extremely important laws, on which there has been no agreement for months due to differing views and demands, Konaković, as only he knows how, simplified the entire story and reduced it exclusively to Dodik's role, absolving the policy of the SNSD, as well as the opposition from the RS, which also has its own demands regarding the seat of the Appellate Division of the Court of BiH.

"We face a key challenge. In my opinion, the two laws awaiting us are technical, especially now that Dodik no longer has any interest in where the seat of the Court will be. He will no longer be able to put pressure on anyone; his case is closed, and his career is politically finished, at least for six years, and the HJPC, with some suggestions we received from people in the judiciary. I think we could prepare very quickly at the Council of Ministers of BiH; these are documents with over 95 percent alignment and agreement, and then, of course, move on to the story about the selection of the chief negotiator. The SNSD stands in our way due to its anti-European stances. And that is what we again count on, that the HDZ, after things settle down regarding the verdict for Milorad Dodik, should think rationally and that we truly prioritize the European agenda by adopting these laws and officially begin negotiations," said Konaković, who reduced three key issues on the European path to just a few oversimplified sentences without any meaning.

And while he minimizes Dodik's influence on the Court of BiH, as well as the policies of the SNSD, which is the strongest political party in the RS, we remind Konaković that it was precisely people from the judiciary who were among the first to leave their positions at the call of politics, even though it concerned unconstitutional laws of the NSRS. And the rule of the SNSD has left deep traces in the judiciary itself, as we see in the handling of the BiH Prosecutor's Office in the case of the attack on the constitutional order. And as Konaković said, Dodik's case is closed, but what about other cases in which he has the status of a suspect?

The SNSD's request was that the seat of the Appellate Division be in Banja Luka, but due to the economy of court proceedings, proximity to detention, and transport, it was proposed that the seat be closer to the Court of BiH. Thus, Predrag Kojović submitted his proposal for the Law on the Court, who, at the wish of certain individuals from the opposition in the RS, proposed that the seat be in Pale. In the proposal submitted by delegate Marina Pendeš, the proposal was that it be East Sarajevo. The Minister of Justice of BiH, Davor Bunoza, also had a proposal that it be Mostar, but he did not receive support.

It is still a big question what the fate of these laws will be at the Council of Ministers of BiH, given the stance of ministers from the SNSD on the European path. And how Konaković plans to win the votes of the SNSD for these laws.

Another paradox in Konaković's address is his attitude towards the opposition from the RS. First, he called them brave because they supported several laws in the House of Representatives of the PS BiH, and then in the next question, he changed his mind. Journalists asked Konaković whether there would be support for the Proposal for the Budget of the Institutions of BiH, which also includes funds for cultural institutions of importance to the state.

"I haven't spoken to anyone from the opposition in the RS, but I am a bit skeptical. From the RS, we have unified stances that are wrong, not good, when it comes to financing cultural institutions. I haven't seen any understanding there that this is truly important, and they oppose it in chorus. I don't know to what extent they will be in a position to possibly change those stances now," stated Konaković.

However, what the real stance of Konaković's brave opposition is will be shown at the session on September 1, when the Proposal for the Budget of the Institutions of BiH and International Obligations for 2025 will be discussed.