Novalić: The state must declare it cannot procure vaccines

(Patria) - The FBiH Government held a session in Sarajevo. FBiH Prime Minister Fadil Novalić, Deputy Prime Ministers Jelka Miličević and Vesko Drljača spoke at a press conference after the session.

- The FBiH Development Strategy for 2021-2027 was adopted. We did this with the help of USAID. We made the decision to develop the strategy back in 2018. Four strategic goals have been defined: the first is accelerated development, then sustainable and inclusive development, and a transparent public sector. The strategy will guide the work of all governments. All strategic documents have been included - stated Novalić, reports Avaz.

He added that structural reforms began with the Reform Agenda.

- This is the first strategic document that is ours - stated Novalić.

A debt management strategy was also adopted.

- On the other hand, we always have the issue of resources. The government fully fulfilled the debt management strategy by 2020. The new strategy again emphasizes priorities, as well as management methods. The development strategy is something we had in mind. Its implementation requires an additional 500 million KM - stated Miličević.

She added that FBiH's debt today is 5 billion 823 million.

- The external debt is over 4 billion, and the internal debt is 4.75 percent of the total debt. The refinancing risk is significant for both internal and external debt. About 40 percent of our external debt is sensitive to currency fluctuations. We expect lower revenues and increased demands, and simulations were conducted in that regard. All of them showed that we will be able to manage everything with external financing by 2023 - emphasized Miličević.

According to her, FBiH's debt amounts to 26.4 percent of the total GDP.

- We are small and open, and we cannot issue additional funds. We depend on the recovery of economies in our closer and further environment - said Miličević.

Answering questions, Miličević said that everyone has the right to their opinion.

- Neither FBiH nor RS is satisfied with the distribution of VAT revenue. This is defined by the VAT Law. I think the distribution is unfair for several reasons. The coefficients are not fair. We asked for the IMF's help to conduct an analysis. That information is ready, and they confirmed that the distribution of funds is completely correct. No one is satisfied - said Miličević.

Prime Minister Novalić said that Zenica opposed the highway passing through the city.

- Under that pressure, they rerouted the highway to unstable areas. And that is visible. It was a wrong decision, and today we have to accept it and stabilize it. The mistake was trying to open it earlier before everything calmed down. This is not a political decision, and the highway is in the hands of experts. There was no readiness to open it, the works were visible. But they probably wanted to use November 25th - emphasized Novalić.

Speaking about coronavirus vaccines, Novalić said that vaccines are procured by states.

- We opted for the COVAX mechanism, which has consequences for us and has proven to be not so effective. Cantons are already trying. FBiH does not have its own company that could procure them, except for private entities, which leads to higher prices and possible malversations. The government agrees that everything should be done before new measures; we had the first lockdown, and we have no intention of taking such steps - emphasized Novalić.

Answering a question, Miličević said that this is not the first time an initiative for the redistribution of public revenues in FBiH has emerged.

- A fairer way of distributing public revenues needs to be established. We have talked about it, but at the moment, we have not reached an acceptable number of votes for that law to pass in the FBiH Parliament, so it has not been submitted. The request to Sarajevo Canton is very specific, asking it to be brought to par with other cantons. And we have many representatives from Sarajevo in both houses - stated Miličević.

Prime Minister Novalić said that the state must declare that it cannot procure vaccines, so that the entities can then take over that task.

- "Pfizer", for example, will not negotiate with anyone except the state - said Novalić.

Speaking about mines, Novalić said that time has passed.

- We have taken steps. RMU Zenica and RMU Breza are underground mines, and no one in Europe does that anymore. New blocks consume a third less coal. Mines must be reorganized - emphasized Novalić.
When asked about the new Accounting Law, Miličević pointed out that there were no changes regarding supervision at the Federation level.

- They must have their own law to work by, not by this Law. Let them make their own, because their current law is from 1996 - stated Miličević.