Peulić sends letter on behalf of Consortium of Road Carriers: Forto deceived us, decision on potential blockade on May 9

(Patria) - The Consortium of International Road Carriers Logistika BiH, which brings together more than 600 companies, sent an open letter to the Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Forto, in which they state that he deceived them.

They state that they attempted institutional dialogue with the Ministry, and reminded that on April 17, Forto promised to fulfill the four key demands of the carriers, who, believing in good intentions, postponed the complete suspension of road traffic in BiH initially planned for April 28.

"Yesterday, we went to the Ministry with the aim of taking operational steps with associates in the Ministry, primarily the Rulebook on excise duties, the Rulebook on licenses, cost analysis, the third plate, and a number of other issues we delegated. Based on the response and attitude towards our demands so far, Minister Forto was only buying time and had no intention of changing anything," the Consortium states.

They add that they regretfully note that Forto, although he knew, did not tell the truth at the meeting with the coordination board of the Consortium, "but on that day he knew that without any consultation with carriers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, without receiving any consent, opinion, or in a public debate" on the same Rulebook, he unilaterally and without any consultation signed and published the Rulebook on licenses which favors individuals, to the detriment of the BiH budget, in which carriers remain marginalized, contrary to the CEMT quality charter".

The Consortium notes that they have more than a hundred masters of technical and other sciences and more than 300 traffic engineers, but all of this has been ignored.

"Minister Forto ignored all of this, and his assistant for road transport is even pressuring for this worst and most harmful rulebook for carriers, without any relevant point of support, to be applied immediately," the Consortium adds.

They emphasize that they hold Forto responsible for the carriers' response, given that he betrayed their trust, favored the interests of individuals, and is buying time.

"Mr. Minister, we submitted a letter of intent in accordance with your promise that you, as the responsible minister, will support the Rulebook on excise duties. To this day, you have not organized or even transferred information to your subordinates, and your assistant is more concerned with resolving the Air tractor issue, we believe on your orders, than with resolving the agreed-upon issue - the Rulebook on excise duty refunds. Also, Mr. Minister, we pointed out a number of problems to you, including the problem of the 'third plate'. We learned yesterday that not only have you done nothing on these issues, but you have no intention of doing so.

We pointed out to you a year ago that with your decision, more than millions of KM have been taken from each carrier's budget cumulatively, just for 'white' and other certificates for CEMT permits, and that this can be regulated at Technical Inspection stations as well," the Consortium adds in the letter signed by the chief coordinator of the Consortium, Velibor Peulić.

It is announced that on May 9, at the Management Board and Plenum of the Consortium, "decisions will be made that you have forced by your intentional ignorance and inaction towards our demands".

"On May 9, we are making decisions that you have caused," the letter states.

They remind that their mobilization capacity in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 6,580 road vehicles in one day.

"We inform the public that we have been deceived by the Ministry, we inform the public that you, as the responsible minister, have not taken a single action on our demands submitted on April 28, you are leaving us with no choice. Enough is enough. On Monday, May 5, we will address the citizens with evidence, facts, in a dignified and clear manner, and today we are forwarding to the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina that Minister Forto has done nothing, almost nothing in favor of the carriers, he has only been buying time. Unfortunately, we do not have time for empty promises and we do not believe that sincere intentions exist," the letter states.

If the demands are not met by May 9, they will make a formal Decision to activate the French model.