WE ARE PUBLISHING EVIDENCE HDZ Ministers Supported Southern Interconnection Until Čović Remembered 'Valves' and a New Company!

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

It was a long time ago in 2017 when the FBiH Government at its 106th session held on June 15, 2017, unanimously adopted a Conclusion tasking BH-Gas to intensify activities on the Southern Interconnection project. All ministers in the FBiH Government voted for that Conclusion, regardless of their party or national affiliation. This certainly includes ministers from HDZ BiH, who were exclusively FOR it from 2017 to 2022, until Dragan Čović took a dislike to the 'valves' (that he could shut off gas to Sarajevo), and the formation of a separate company where he could employ people!

The problem arose the moment amendments to the Law on Southern Interconnection were submitted, which called for the deletion of BH-Gas from the law and the insertion of a new company, 'Southern Gas Interconnection,' in its place. The Croatian National Assembly also resolved this issue through a declaration, stating that this interconnection is of national interest to the Croatian people.

And that the 'trojka' (the ruling coalition) is willing to support these Croatian national interests was shown by Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić, who withdrew all laws, including the Law on Southern Interconnection, and the relevant ministers will decide whether and in what form to reintroduce the laws to the Parliament of the Federation.

Unlike their previous stances, HDZ BiH ministers now think differently. They are no longer FOR it, and not even a letter from Antony Blinken has swayed the FBiH Government to speed up processes in this important project.

One thing is certain: the previously proposed law on Southern Interconnection, which was adopted by the House of Representatives, will not be reintroduced in its identical form, and the problem is also that the Southern Interconnection is linked with the Eastern one, so it goes to the Council of Ministers of BiH as a package deal. Back then, Elmedin Konaković claimed that the projects would go together, but only one project – the eastern one – reached the Presidency of BiH.

Neither Željko Komšić nor Denis Bećirović are prepared to support the New Eastern Interconnection project, nor the Southern Interconnection, without the adoption of a state-level gas law.

However, a compromise on this issue should be shown by the Trojka and their allies, and certainly not by HDZ and SNSD, while the leaders of NIP and SDP assure us that all projects are desirable and in the interest of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. But, the interests of all citizens of BiH apparently cannot come before the interests of Čović and Dodik!?

You can read all the conclusions previously supported by HDZ ministers HERE