Schmidt to Minister Amidžić: Act on the decision and pay the debt to Viaduct

(Patria) - High Representative Christian Schmidt assessed as senseless the criticism from the RS authorities who accuse him that with the latest decision resolving the debt issue with the Slovenian Viaduct, he has reached into the pockets of RS citizens, denying them pensions and salaries.

He told the state Minister of Finance - act on the decision and pay the money to Viaduct, and report all suspicions to the Prosecutor's Office.

- The BiH Legal Counsel has repeatedly called on the authorities in Banja Luka to pay the accumulated debt, however, there was never a response. What they claim, that they know nothing about it, is complete nonsense.

Toll money that belongs to the RS is available for debt settlement, but it does not affect the entity's budget in any way - Schmidt said in an interview with Nova TV.

He called on the state Minister of Finance Srđan Amidžić to act on the decision and pay the money to Viaduct, and if there are suspicions that the money will go to the wrong address - to report it to the prosecutor.

- This is a decision and it concerns blocked state money, Central Bank money, and BHANSA money. The Minister of Finance knows this well and I expect them to say what they know, not to tell stories they would like to tell.

It is up to him to pay this money and he must do so with due diligence, he must take all necessary steps. If he considers that something is not going as it should and if people in the RS know that the company Viaduct is not authorized, why did their lawyers not state all of that in Washington?

All this information they have now - why didn't they state it earlier? There is complete disorientation regarding what is happening. I don't like to be too harsh towards officials, but I urge them to fulfill their obligations.

If there is any information that the money will go or has already gone to the wrong address, or if someone feels that something is fishy within the Banja Luka-Portorož agreement, then go to the prosecutor and report it, and if not, then pay the money - Schmidt concluded.