Kukić: America is mistaken, I am disappointed

(Patria) - After the publication of the list of individuals and legal entities from BiH to whom the American administration has imposed a certain type of sanction - entry ban to the USA, the president of PDA and Member of Parliament Mirsad Kukić announced himself.

"I am surprised and disappointed by the decision of the American administration, in which, both as an individual and as the president of a political entity, I see extremely great friends of BiH. I believe that precisely with the assistance of the American administration, BiH will be brought within the framework of democracy, and I have been acting in the same direction for years, both within the political entity PDA and as a Member of Parliament. The surprising fact is that undefined and unclearly established actions are attributed to me, which fall under the segment of 'corrupt activities' from the period when I was the director of the Banovići Mine, where my term in that position ended back in 2001," said Kukić.

He emphasized that he is "firmly convinced that the American administration, or rather those who participated in making such decisions, have been misled, precisely by those who engage in systemic corruption," against whom, as he says, he "openly raised his voice, who begged PDA to enter into a coalition with them, which he refused because such coalitions led to the blockade of the state of BiH.".

"So, in this way, with their moralizing, they intended to divert public attention from scandals such as arms sales, procurement of ventilators, public procurement during the pandemic, etc. It is also indicative that these processes are led precisely by those who formed coalitions with those political parties that were under sanctions even at the time of forming coalitions, which have now been expanded, and out of fear of the upcoming general elections in 2022 and the loss of power, they are trying to deceive the public in various ways. Given that the decision of the American administration followed without respecting my basic human right based on International Conventions, i.e., without the right to present the arguments of the other side, I believe that this is a predetermined goal of breaking the pro-Bosnian bloc and overthrowing the Government of Tuzla Canton," Kukić stated.

He adds that he wants to inform the public that "PDA is a political movement that initiated the processes of replacing the unconstitutionally formed Government of TK, that it established the normal functioning of the Government of TK, the Assembly of TK and other institutions, and that it is the first political option that insisted on the adoption of a set of anti-corruption laws that would prevent systemic corruption, which I spoke about, quoting Escobar, at the First Congress of PDA.".

"In addition, since 2019, I have been filing reports against corruption and illegal activities of those who, in my personal understanding and based on suspicion, have violated the law, and I have submitted such acts to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of TK, the Director of Police, the Head of the Criminal Police Sector of TK, the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of TK, the Federal Prosecutor's Office, Mr. Larson, the HJPC, the Disciplinary Prosecutor's Office, the OHR and the Office of the High Representative, as well as the American Embassy in BiH with the explicit goal that perpetrators of actions that are not in accordance with the laws are sanctioned in a timely manner. Unfortunately, such letters remained 'dead letters on paper', and I was subjected to certain sanctions, so I must ask myself with reason whether one of the reasons for imposing sanctions is not the request for the prosecution of those responsible in public enterprises and state institutions who felt eternally protected. What is my goal and what is the goal of the PDA political project is the full equality of citizens and peoples in BiH, without the majorization of anyone, which clearly does not suit someone," he stated.

Speaking about the demands of some politicians to break the coalition with PDA, which, as he says, would lead to the fall of the TK Government, as an equivalent, he called on "those who are in coalition with SNSD, which was under sanctions that have now been expanded, and to whom the instruments of 'initiating vital national interest' have been given, thereby blocking state institutions, to leave that coalition at the state level, since the president of SNSD, Milorad Dodik, is also under sanctions." He also called on the president of DF, Željko Komšić, and Šefik Džaferović to, "as a moral act, which they insist on, resign from their positions as members of the Presidency of BiH because they are equal in that institution with Dodik, who is also under sanctions from the American administration.".

"I also want to let the public know once again that these are classic political moves, as the action came out of fear of the general elections, with the aim of breaking the pro-Bosnian bloc which is strengthening daily, and by introducing the majorization of members of certain peoples, postponing the implementation of the judgments of the European Court and the Constitutional Court of BiH, and bringing the entire state of BiH into so-called 'Mostarization' so that elections are not held, and the current government, which is not the result of the implementation of even the past elections, remains in power for years, and all these goals would allegedly be implemented under the guise of democracy and by sanctioning and persecuting those who want to bring the state of BiH within the framework of a legal state in which its peoples and citizens would be equal throughout the territory of BiH," said Kukić.

He states that he is "firmly convinced that the American administration will reconsider its decision, and try to find a way out of the vicious circle of deception, and that in the future it will base its decisions on reasoned facts as an administration that is a synonym for democracy in the world.".