Leaders of SDA, HDZ, and SNSD Reach Agreement: 62% of IMF Arrangement for FBiH, 38% for RS

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Leaders of SDA, HDZ, and SNSD, Bakir Izetbegović, Dragan Čović, and Milorad Dodik, reached an agreement on the Letter of Intent and the arrangement with the IMF, at a meeting held today at the EU Delegation with representatives of the EU and the IMF.

Of the 330 million euros, the total value of the arrangement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the IMF, 62 percent will go to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 38 percent to Republika Srpska. 

Head of the EU Delegation and High Representative Johann Sattler told the media that these are extraordinary times that require extraordinary solutions. 

"Precisely for this reason, my colleague, the US Ambassador Eric Nelson, and I hosted a meeting today with political leaders, where important agreements were reached regarding measures and further responses in the socio-economic sphere. In this context, an agreement was reached on establishing a group, or rather a coordination body, which will include members of the Fiscal Council and representatives of other institutions, focusing on the socio-economic aspect. What is important is that the leaders of political parties agreed on the distribution of funds," Sattler stated.

US Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson expressed his satisfaction with helping to reach an agreement.

"Democratic authorities must function differently in times of crisis; there is a great need for better coordination, trust, and transparency, and for faster action. The new coordination body for the economic response should help to act faster and more effectively. It is important that the discussion is not in terms of 'who is the winner or loser'; the reality is that we are all united," Nelson said.

SDA President Bakir Izetbegović told reporters after the meeting that the agreement "helped the Council of Ministers and the entity governments."

"We will continue the agreement on distribution within FBiH, because the cantons bear a large part of the burden in the fight against coronavirus, due to healthcare, police, employment bureaus, and people who will lose their jobs. This burden will primarily fall on the cantons, so we will agree on those percentages in the coming days," Izetbegović said.