Nermin Nikšić, strengthening the energy potential of the Serb world is not only treason but also a criminal offense!

By: Rasim Belko @rasimbelko

“I will remind you that it was originally intended for the Republic of Italy, the Republic of Serbia, and Republika Srpska to participate in the Middle Drina project. Through our direct engagement and agreement with the federal Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić and the leaders of RS, RS President Milorad Dodik and Prime Minister Željka Cvijanović, Elektroprivreda BiH, i.e., the Government of the Federation of BiH, was included in the project alongside Elektroprivreda RS,” said Zlatko Lagumdžija, then president of SDP BiH and head of BiH diplomacy, at the end of 2013.

The Middle Drina project has once again come into the public spotlight, although Lagumdžija is somewhere far away on the East River, after Nermin Nikšić, the current president of SDP BiH and Prime Minister of FBiH, stated that he and Radovan Višković, Prime Minister of RS, had tried to revive projects on the Drina. Thus, Nikšić, both during Lagumdžija's time and now, is inclined to negotiate with Dodik and his people on issues and projects that cannot be realized without state involvement.

Nikšić exclusively announced the talks with Višković on the show Klix, without specifying which project it was. The public rightly thought it was about the Buk Bijela project, but the RS Government then reacted and stated: “The mentioned possibilities of ownership share distribution – Serbia 50 percent, RS and FBiH 25 percent each, which Nikšić spoke about, relate to the potential possibility of ownership distribution, but for the 'Middle Drina' project,” said the RS Government, adding: “The 'Middle Drina' project refers to the location from Bajina Bašta to Zvornik, where the Drina River forms the border, and the Republic of Serbia is an absolutely equal partner there, so discussions on this topic with 'Elektroprivreda Srbije' and the leadership of Serbia have not taken place.”

Therefore, Nermin Nikšić has exclusively sold us a load of nonsense. Or perhaps not. The Middle Drina project is a consequence of the agreement between Vučić, Berlusconi, and Dodik. The original project originated from that contract, and even some form of contract was signed between the Italian Seci Energia, Elektroprivreda Srbije, and Elektroprivreda RS. Given that an EU member was involved in the project, RS agreed to include Elektroprivreda BiH (Federation of BiH) in the project. According to that agreement, Italy would have a 51 percent share, and Serbia and RS 24.5 percent each. Then RS agreed to split its share with FBiH, so they would each get around 12.25 percent. Thus, nowhere near the distribution Nikšić spoke of.

However, the project got stuck somewhere between Belgrade and Rome, and the whole story faded into the background. Whether Italy withdrew is unknown, but it is difficult to expect that given the very favorable conditions.

But, even if it did, what is Nikšić negotiating then? Nothing other than the energy Serb world. Because Serbia, with whom, by the way, no negotiations took place, would get 50 percent, while RS and FBiH would get 25 percent each. Elektroprivreda HZHB would not be in the project, nor would Elektroprijenos be included. Therefore, RS would be in a position to cede its 25 percent to Serbia, which would then have 75 percent. And that is why the RS Government's statement looks more like a well-thought-out lie to cover up the hasty Nikšić.

Because of this, I am more inclined to believe that Nikšić was actually negotiating about the Buk Bijela project, let it slip, and then tried to spin it. Because the Middle Drina is just an attempted project, and Buk Bijela is a project stuck in its attempt. And it got stuck due to the Constitutional Court's decision and the duty of the Concessions Commission to resolve the issue, given that the Drina is state property. Dodik's Staša Košarac is blocking the Commission out of fear of a decision, which is why Buk Bijela is hanging in the air.

And the answer to whether Nikšić betrayed state, and even entity, interests should be sought there. Because Buk Bijela is, after all, a tangible project, unlike the Middle Drina. And for that reason, Nikšić, if he was talking about the Middle Drina project, should come forward and say what he said or agreed upon. Not to mumble in a TV interview that someone is misquoting him, without explaining what he meant and what he was negotiating. Because, on the show Klix, he exclaimed “exclusively,” and then remained incomplete.

What is surprising in this whole story is the lack of reaction from the opposition and the rest of the government. Only Šemsudin Mehmedović reacted, rightly demanding Nikšić's resignation, because if he had negotiated without conditioning Serbia with a debt for water resources of 4.5 billion KM, then he betrayed the interests of the state.

“It is one thing to build good neighborly relations, but why always at the expense of Bosnia!? Given that Nikšić called me out and said I was lying, I tell Nikšić to read my reaction where it is clearly stated about the construction of HPPs on the Middle Drina and about HPP Buk Bijela. It is clear that Nikšić released both pieces of information and it is clear in what sequence they appeared, and that he was testing the public's pulse and consciously manipulated and created confusion. I am glad that he confirmed that it is true that he does not intend to condition Serbia with debt payment, he did not even mention that,” Mehmedović told Nikšić.

In this whole story, one should not forget that for the president of SDP BiH, the story about state property is “a story about some fields there.” In this case, for Nikšić, BiH rivers are apparently just some Drina.

If Nikšić really talked to Višković as stated by the RS Government, then it is clear that the Prime Minister of the Federation betrayed state interests from that position, and the accusations in the public should be replaced by criminal charges against the interests of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Any action contrary to the decisions of the Constitutional Court is a criminal offense, including this one. Undoubtedly, any negotiation with Serbia and its partners in BiH outside the decision on state property and without state bodies is TREASON in the full sense of the word.

From Lagumdžija to Nikšić, apparently, nothing has changed in SDP. They continue to serve the interests of SNSD and Serbia very well!