FBiH Farmers Respond to Košarac: Do Not Divide Us Along National Lines

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - With his statement yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Staša Košarac, once again confirmed that he is not worthy of holding any position at the state level of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We consider the accusations against farmers, that they do not think for themselves but are prompted by the opposition, to be an underestimation of our intelligence, announced the Association of Farmers of FBiH.

"The attempt to use our struggle in party conflicts is proof of Minister Košarac's powerlessness and lack of any substantiated arguments and solutions. We emphasize once again that yesterday's protest was organized by farmers from both BiH entities. Minister Košarac is mistaken by addressing exclusively producers from Republika Srpska. Yesterday, there were also people from Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zenica, and Krajina in Bijeljina and Gradiška, and all of them are dissatisfied with the policy of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations. Agriculture knows no entity borders, and it is time for Minister Košarac to finally understand that.

Also, it is time for him to understand that the times when he could divide us along national or any other lines are irrevocably over. In this context, we consider the statement of his party colleague and lawyer, RS Minister of Agriculture Boris Pašalić, who claims that farmers from the Federation do not belong at the border crossings in RS, to be shameful. We tell Minister Pašalić that our place is wherever the interests of farmers are defended.

Since Staša Košarac has proven on several occasions that he is not interested in the job he is paid for, and that he will continue with spins and manipulations in the future, yesterday we requested that the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina be involved as soon as possible in resolving the issue of protecting domestic production. We believe that the members of the Presidency are, after all, more serious politicians and that our situation will meet with their understanding," the statement reads.