Pivić, Silajdžić and Batalović for NAP: Murphy and Sattler's letter is an invoice to the imposed Nikšić government, why is RS being ignored?

By: Rasim Belko

The letter sent by US and EU ambassadors Michael Murphy and Johann Sattler to the imposed Prime Minister of FBiH, Nermin Nikšić, and his deputies is, according to many, of a commanding nature and the essence of that Government's work program. Given that the imposed FBiH Government does not have a work program, as it was only recently sent to the FBiH Parliament, it is clear that the US and EU diplomats expect the content of their letter to be incorporated into that work program.

We remind you that the letter requests the imposed FBiH Government to secure concessions for airports, reduce production from mines and electricity from thermal power plants, and increase production through renewable sources…

It is clear that the letter represents a gross violation of the rules of conduct for diplomats in the host country, and we asked representatives in the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament for a comment.

Nezir Pivić, an SDA representative in the FBiH House of Representatives, told Patria: “The letter addressed to the imposed Federation Government by the Ambassadors of the United States and the European Union, considering its content, can truly be called a work program. Namely, upon detailed review and reading, we conclude that it concerns measures and activities that the addressees are instructed to implement by the addressee to whom the letter is directed”.

Pivić: The letter is more of an order than a work program

“Given all the circumstances surrounding the imposition of the Federation Government, the absence of a majority in the Federation Parliament, and the imperative language in which the letter was written, we conclude that, in its political and legal nature, it is more of an order than a work program, and that it would take precedence over any program that the imposed government might adopt,” Pivić points out.

Haris Silajdžić, a representative of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, believes that “the letter sent to the FBiH Government by Sattler and Murphy is the first invoice to the Trojka parties for imposing and suspending the Constitution”.

“I am sure there will be more such demands. The letter actually shows that when the international community wants something, it communicates and implements it clearly. If they wanted to stop Dodik, just as they want airports to be concessioned, Dodik would have been history long ago. In this mandate, there is extreme inefficiency at all levels, and even the few laws that have been adopted are either in the interest of Čović and Dodik or the international community and their interests,” states Silajdžić and notes:



Silajdžić: If they had acted like this with Dodik, he would have been history long ago

“Now it's the airports' turn, tomorrow the FBiH Government will be asked to sell the telecom, the power utility, the mines, etc. It is also problematic that the content of the letter is sent to our authorities through ambassadors, and not in the accession process from EU institutions.”

Mirza Batalović, an NES representative in the House of Representatives, believes that “the content of the letter sent by Murphy and Schmidt to the Federation of BiH Government can only surprise laypeople”.

“Although the letter is interpreted as suggesting certain activities, it is evident that it is about imposing a work program on the imposed Federation Government according to the matrix ‘we imposed you, now you will do what we say’”.

“I welcome any ‘suggestion’ that will bring progress to the Federation and be beneficial to its citizens. At the same time, I would like the same address to ‘suggest’ many things to the Government of Republika Srpska, primarily when it comes to the protection of Bosniaks in this BiH entity, who are almost daily targets of brutal attacks,” Batalović told Patria.



Batalović: I would like the ambassadors to suggest to the RS authorities to protect returnees in RS

Batalović concludes: “Any move, undertaking, or project must first and foremost be checked to see if it is in the interest and benefit of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Everything else is less important and trivial.”

And indeed, there is no doubt that the ultimate intention of Murphy and Sattler in asking the Federation of BiH to reduce electricity production in mines, while not asking the same from the other entity, is questionable, perhaps believing that they can divide even the air in this country along ethnic lines.

Such letters certainly damage the reputation of both Washington and Brussels among all forces that view Bosnia and Herzegovina as a unified, internationally recognized state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Because, if the letter from Murphy and Sattler is the stance of official Washington and Brussels, we have a much bigger problem than we thought.