Peulić for NAP: We've had enough of promises, we expect concrete solutions from Košarac and Forto

(Patria) - Representatives of the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina will hold separate meetings with two state ministers in Sarajevo tomorrow regarding the issues faced by transporters, after which they will inform the public about the outcome of these talks at a press conference.

The first scheduled meeting is with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Staša Košarac, at 10:00 AM, followed by a meeting with the Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Forto, at 12:00 PM. The Consortium's press conference is scheduled for 1:00 PM at the building of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Velibor Peulić, the main coordinator of the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina, told Patria that at tomorrow's meeting with Minister Forto, they will reiterate their demands - to change the concept according to the regulations under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- The fact is that the minister was absent, and his associates did nothing. Tomorrow, we expect Minister Forto to review all these regulations, to which we have about twenty objections.

We will not deviate from that minimum. One of these regulations is certainly licensing, another is to introduce the rule of the third license plate, as well as to support the regulation on excise duty refunds.

Furthermore, to eliminate costs for new vehicles imported into Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning if we already pay 100,000 euros, we should not have to pay additional costs.

I hope that meeting will be productive, because we are no longer interested in promises. On Tuesday, May 6, we must have clear answers as to whether the officials of the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) of Bosnia and Herzegovina are implementing what was agreed upon - says Peulić.

He emphasizes that the meeting with Forto will be preceded by one with Minister Košarac, and they will discuss the synchronization of inspection services in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- To make it easier for our citizens, i.e., your readers, to understand, here are a few examples. For instance, on April 31, perishable goods - flowers - arrived at the border crossing in Bosanska Gradiška.

However, due to state holidays, entity inspections are not working, and we can only dispatch those flowers to a florist now on Monday. The same problem exists with medicines.

Or, for example, we have the Bratoljub border crossing, where an inspector locks her office at 2:00 PM, which is unacceptable - says Peulić.

He explains that Minister Košarac said he invited all inspection directors to tomorrow's meeting.

- We hope that meeting will also be constructive; Minister Košarac promised to do that, just like Minister Forto - I had an open conversation with him and we know exactly what was agreed upon on April 17.

We have no intention of believing in any promises anymore, only in concrete results. At 1:00 PM tomorrow, we will hold a press conference in the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina and will present everything that happened at those meetings - emphasizes Peulić.

He praised the media as the only partners of the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina that sincerely and consistently convey all their words and statements.

- There are all sorts of occurrences, but that does not interest us. Our unity in the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we have gathered from the Una to the Drina, from the Sava to the sea, can no longer be divided by anyone.

And we will not back down until the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in this sector of ours, transforms itself in the service of the BiH economy. We want to stay here and work - said Peulić.

In the Consortium, he adds, they trust BiH institutions, and emphasizes that in an open letter sent to Minister Forto, they stated that he has done nothing in favor of transporters since April 17, and that he was only buying time instead of resolving the issues delegated to him.

- We still have problems with ministers at the entity level, but for now, this is the state level, so we move on - says Peulić.

For Friday, May 9, he explains, a session of the Management Board of the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina is scheduled, where they will present everything that is, or is not, agreed upon with Košarac and Forto.

- Our Management Board comprises 1,500 vehicle units, the Plenum has over 650 legal entities. And accordingly, whatever decision is made on Friday, it will be announced to everyone.

I don't want to prejudge; we had a fair conversation with Minister Forto, he said nothing is controversial, that it can be fixed. Well, we'll see what happens tomorrow - emphasizes Peulić.

He adds that the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina can mobilize 6,000 vehicle units every day.

- In a ceremonial parade, thanks to the citizens of Sarajevo and other BiH cities, we only made a demonstration of our strength, the power we have as the BiH transport industry.

We hold the supply chain of this country, and we carried out the ceremonial parade with a small part of our vehicle fleet. The goal was for the whole of BiH to see that we are the most modern transport industry in Europe.

One of the messages of that parade was also to show our unity. So, there is no city in Bosnia and Herzegovina that was not represented in Sarajevo that day.

And these people who make decisions are probably aware of all that, and that they should finally deal with those bureaucrats who have been harassing us for 20 years. Surely we won't be the ones to deal with them - concluded Peulić.

(D.K.)