Plenković not a word in public with Čović about the Southern Interconnection, but with Kabiri he negotiates favourable conditions for Aluminij

(Patria) - Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković, at least in official announcements, did not discuss the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline with HDZ leader Dragan Čović, but he did with the owner of Mostar's Aluminij, Amir Kabiri.

Although Plenković answered a question about the Southern Interconnection at yesterday's press conference in Sarajevo and expressed Croatia's readiness to help Bosnia and Herzegovina with this project, he emphasised that legal prerequisites must exist for this and that an "internal consensus" must be reached.

Plenković is also aware that Čović and the HDZ are blocking the adoption of the Law on the Southern Interconnection, and in a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent to the heads of both Croatian and Bosnian diplomacy, Gordan Grlić Radman and Elmedin Konaković in January this year, it was precisely requested that pressure be exerted on Čović.

"Given that this project is in the clear interest of your country and the region, I encourage you and others in your government to pressure HDZ Bosnia and Herzegovina leader Dragan Čović to end his obstruction on this matter. Čović's demands for the formation of a new transmission system operator in the Federation are duplicated, economically unviable, and endanger the entire project. Such blatant corruption and self-dealing could jeopardise Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU path," Blinken stated in the letter.

However, even such a clear warning was not enough to unblock this project, and the HDZ continues to insist on a special company headquartered in Mostar.

That things have gone in the wrong direction and that this project of importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is being privatised is also shown by Plenković's meeting with Kabiri during his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"In the meeting with Kabiri, President of the Abraham Group, we discussed further business plans for Aluminij in Mostar. Croatia strongly supports the Southern Gas Interconnection project, which will ensure even more favourable conditions for the development of this strategically important company for Bosnia and Herzegovina," Plenković stated.

In the meeting with @AMIRGKABIRI, President of @themtabraham,
we discussed further business plans for Aluminij in Mostar. Croatia strongly supports the Southern Gas Interconnection project, which will ensure even more favourable conditions for the development of this strategically important company for Bosnia and Herzegovina. pic.twitter.com/o8AWtu9qk0

— Andrej Plenković (@AndrejPlenkovic) September 5, 2024

That Croatia is imposing itself as the leader of this project is also shown by the announcement of the Government of Croatia after Plenković's visit.

"By investing in the LNG terminal on Krk, which will annually provide 6.1 billion cubic metres of gas, Croatia will be able to help supply and diversify supply routes for Bosnia and Herzegovina as well. We are ready to invest in 72 km of gas pipeline from Dugopolje via Zagvozd to Posušje and thus bring gas to Bosnia and Herzegovina," the announcement of the Government of Croatia on the X network states.

This is about American liquefied gas, so it is clear why this gas pipeline is also a strategic project for the USA. With this project, Bosnia and Herzegovina would reduce its dependence on Russian gas.

Any reactions to these meetings of Plenković and promises about the Southern Interconnection were absent.