Miličević: SDS's account is currently being blocked

(Patria) - SDS President Milan Miličević told Nezavisne novine that the party's account has not yet been closed due to American sanctions, and that this will certainly affect certain financial matters, but that SDS's participation in the local elections to be held in the autumn is not in question.

Let us remind you, the President of NSRs, Nenad Stevandić, said today that he has information that the bank account of SDS, which has been on the American sanctions list since 2004, will be closed.

Speaking about OFAC sanctions, Stevandić said that this matter is not only about the status of persons in power, but also about colleagues from the opposition.

- I am informed that these are accounts of people who were in power in 2003-2005 and who are under US sanctions.

In general, it is about about 50 people from SDS whose accounts have been closed, and the procedure is underway to close the account of SDS as well, as a parliamentary party, because it is also on the sanctions list - said Stevandić.

Miličević responded that it is interesting that Stevandić is worried about SDS.

- I don't know if Stevandić is on that OFAC list or not. Whether his concern for SDS stems from some past times or emotions is unknown to me, but it is disgusting - emphasizes Miličević.

He reminds that SDS has been under OFAC sanctions since 2004, as well as numerous SDS officials from that period.

- There is a legal procedure due to which the procedure for closing these accounts, including SDS's, has been initiated. This was initiated by the bank where we have our account, probably because they received such an instruction from the Banking Agency or however it works.

The account has not been abolished, it has not been closed yet, and the account agreement we have with our bank can be terminated unilaterally. It will not be closed at our initiative, but it can be by the bank.

We will, of course, seek all legal remedies through the courts, because this hinders and discriminates against the party as an organization, making it difficult to express political views - explains Miličević.

But he claims that the eventual blocking of the account will not jeopardize SDS's participation in the elections.

- This does not jeopardize the party's ability to participate in the elections, because the law has provided for a number of other options for participation due to the fact that a certain fee and deposit must be paid to the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has its own procedure.

The law has provided for several different variants, and I don't know if there is anything new after this new law that was imposed, but it has not yet entered into force, so I will not interfere.

Therefore, it is certain that functioning will be made more difficult in terms of financial flows, but it will not be made more difficult in terms of SDS's political activities and participation in elections - claims Miličević.

When asked if he was worried, he replied - "you know, as a politician, you have to get used to being worried every day, so I'm used to being very cautious".

- But since there are several legal ways out of every problem, I am not worried in the long-term sense. But it certainly makes work more difficult - added Miličević.