LET NATO REEXAMINE ITSELF Norway, due to the Drina's potential, favors RS secession, 'Buk Bijela' more important than BiH's sovereignty!

Written by: Amina Čorbo-Zećo

The behavior of the Norwegian ambassador to BiH, Olav Reinertsen, who, as reported by Istraga, very openly told Zukan Helez that the entity of Republika Srpska plans secession and that BiH cannot expect much help from the West, is very likely conditioned by the struggle for renewable energy sources!

It will turn out that the entire problem in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is turning into a serious security challenge, is connected to projects conceived by Milorad Dodik and Serbia under the patronage of Western countries with their financial assistance.

The trick lies in two words: 'Buk Bijela'. The political aspect of this entire story is much more complex, and even more dangerous for the state of BiH, as will be proven now when Dodik dangerously threatens secessionism, and Norway, as the contact embassy for the NATO alliance in our country, 'shrugs its shoulders' and says 'you are left to your own devices'.

There is no sovereign state without its sovereignty when it comes to energy, experts have warned for years, emphasizing that neighboring states must never become owners of our energy facilities.

And, through the construction of the HPP 'Buk Bijela', Serbia is striving for that. The patron, and possibly the initiator of the entire story, is precisely Norway. Thus, in 2022, the then Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Zoran Tegeltija (SNSD), participated in a regional conference in Belgrade titled 'Investment Opportunities in Renewable Energy Sources in the Western Balkans'.

The conference was organized by the embassies of the Kingdom of Norway in Sarajevo and Belgrade in cooperation with the Nordic Business Alliance, the Business Association Norway – BiH, and Norwegian partners for cooperation in the energy sector, with the aim of presenting Norwegian expertise and investors to the countries of the Western Balkans in the field of renewable energy sources.

Norway is, therefore, the patron of a story about some kind of open Balkan energy market, which from BiH's perspective is a mirror image of the 'Serbian world'.

Therefore, Norway's lack of interest in preventing Dodik from implementing the plan and making Republika Srpska independent is not surprising, because, after all, green energy is more important than the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tegeltija then said that in Bosnia and Herzegovina there is a strong interest in strengthening cooperation in the energy sector with companies from the Kingdom of Norway, as well as openness to regional cooperation.

Of course, he emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina has untapped energy potential, while Norway possesses knowledge, new technologies, and financing opportunities.

Now, since the project for the construction of the HPP 'Buk Bijela' is stalling, Norway is no longer bothered even by the fact that UZP and genocide were committed, because the desire to get their hands on BiH's energy resources, as well as the plan for the secession of those territories, is 'going according to plan'.

It is important to also recall the words of Amer Jerlagić, who emphasized that the Drina is a border river and that it must not be handed over to a foreign investor, except in its middle course where it forms the border between BiH and Serbia.

Belgrade and Aleksandar Vučić have never proposed a joint project with BiH there; it always comes down to a project with the administrative unit of RS.

These are HPP Buk Bijela, HPP Foča, and HPP Paunci. The Norwegians, and others, need to refresh their memory and be reminded that the Government of Serbia was planned to be the majority owner of HPP Buk Bijela, and that is an attack on BiH's energy sovereignty.

Also, one must always keep in mind that the Drina is the only river with untapped energy potential, as much as 60 percent, and that is why it is interesting to everyone, especially to the neighbors, and evidently not even unappealing to the Norwegians. This Scandinavian country is a leader in Europe when it comes to renewable energy sources.

Every obstacle on that path must be removed, and that, as things currently stand, is the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina!

Norway's role in the story of energy projects on BiH's waters is perhaps best detected by the fact that three Norwegians sit on the Management Board of Elektroprivreda Srbije, who were in charge of the reform and consolidation of that Serbian state company, and additional suspicion about the entire deal is raised by the fact that the contract between Norway and EPS is secret.

That is why the 'shrugging of shoulders' by the Norwegian ambassador regarding the secessionism of Republika Srpska should not be taken lightly. The Troika should respond as soon as possible and explain the current situation in which BiH finds itself, to openly tell the people what they intend to undertake in terms of protecting both the citizens and the state of BiH, because, after all, they are the government that is obliged to take responsibility for protecting the constitutional order, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of BiH; it is not enough to just talk about what the SDA did!