ORUČEVIĆ IN THE NETWORK: Bosniaks must change their policy in captive Mostar

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - It is unlikely that the elections in Mostar will be held in October, given that domestic and international officials are talking only to two parties, the SDA and HDZ, regardless of the fact that they have no legitimacy in the city of Mostar, said former mayor of the city on the Neretva, Safet Oručević, in an interview for the “Mreža” magazine of Federal Television. 

“It is well known that they will never reach an agreement, and that is why the only solution is for all political factors in Mostar, non-governmental organizations and individuals to open a discussion on the Statute of the City of Mostar and not to make a decision that exclusively includes the opinion of the SDA and HDZ. After that, let whoever wants boycott the elections, but after 25 years and based on arguments, election rules for the City of Mostar can be adopted so that it truly becomes a unique and multi-ethnic city,” added Oručević.

As he says, this situation suits all those who say it is impossible. 

“I believe it is up to the international community to decide who talks about Mostar,” Oručević stated. 

Regarding the negotiations between the SDA and HDZ, the former mayor of Mostar says: “As we know all these years, when they get close to a solution, one or the other side comes up with a factor that destroys all agreements, and this has been going on for 12 years. When I left Mostar and ended my term, the city remained with six municipalities. Today, the SDA likes to blame even me for Ashdown's statute, but the SDA was in power at the time. The truth is that Paddy Ashdown, under pressure from the HDZ and Croatian politics, made a decision to create one municipality as it was in the 1990s, with the right, however, he adopted election rules that made it a Croatian city. Under our pressure, when we recognized that, we could not return the city to six municipalities, which in Dayton gave equality to Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks and Others, but we managed to impose election rules with which Bosnian parties won every time. And Paddy Ashdown had to give in. He adopted election rules that were later declared unconstitutional, but with which Bosnian parties won and every term gave the mandate to the HDZ for reasons known only to them. That is why for 15, 16 years we have had Ljubo Bešlić as mayor.” 

“Bosniaks must change their policy in Mostar,” Oručević stated. 

Asked about the possibility that the Constitutional Court will ultimately decide, Oručević says that is also one of the possible solutions and should be implemented. 

“The HDZ's strategy has captured Mostar. I believe that Mostar will remain tied to the Election Law for a long time because concessions are made to Dragan Čović. That is why the elections in Mostar are questionable. Čović wants to resolve the election rules, and you know that is difficult to do. It is not just about resolving election rules, but the concept of what this country looks like and how much we have reconciled the national and civic in this country. If there are people who know how to negotiate and agree on that, then no one can say anything. It must be a good and well-intentioned team,” Oručević commented on Dragan Čović's announcements that the story about the Election Law and elections in Mostar should be completed by March. 

He added that Čović had ultimatively demanded two things during the election campaign and that it is now difficult for him to retreat. 

“He proposed two models, and both were rejected. For now, the SDA stands by the concept of the DF's proposal and must think about what and how to do. He alone cannot do anything. The question is what can be done to change the positions of the SDA, SBB and DF. Čović overplayed his hand a bit in the election campaign and angered Bosniaks, who consequently supported Komšić. I was surprised by his reaction to the Hague verdict for the six from Herzeg-Bosnia. He thought he could manipulate Bosniaks,” emphasized the former mayor of Mostar. 

Asked why the HDZ is in a hurry for the Election Law and whether there is a fear of imposition, Oručević says it does not seem they are in a hurry. 

“They absolutely use all the resources of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, employ their closest, enrich themselves… And every crisis is welcome to them. There is no threat to Croats. They will pay the price when they see they have lost the people. One day they will be punished, either through protests or something similar,” adds Oručević. 

Regarding the behavior of Milorad Dodik, who advocates more for Čović than for Serbs in Mostar, Safet Oručević says: “Dodik will not accept anything, neither constitutionality nor equality. They are not interested in Serbs in Mostar at all. They do not want a situation to be mirrored in Banja Luka, because they think that if a multi-ethnic Mostar is created, it will happen in Banja Luka too. They only work on creating more enclosures. Strategically, Dodik is not interested in Serbs in Mostar.” 

Asked whether he will vote in Mostar in October, Oručević says he will, for “friends he believes can change the situation and that he has friends and enemies in every party.”

“We always tell them they will never have a Croatian city, and I tell them that again. I have never lost an election. I believe we will vote in October, and that will mark 20 years since I left power,” Oručević stated. 

Asked whether he will run, he briefly replied, “No way.”