Šepić and Independent Bloc refused the invitation to Neum: BiH state should resolve its open issues within institutions

SARAJevo, (Patria) - Presidents and representatives of several political parties from FBiH gathered tonight at the Marea Hotel in Neum, as well as delegations of international mediators from the US and EU, Matthew Palmer and Angelina Eichhorst, to negotiate the Election Law of BiH and limited amendments to the Constitution of BiH. The invitation was refused by SDP BiH, DF, Naša stranka, as well as the Independent Bloc.

"The Independent Bloc and I personally received an invitation to participate in the talks on amendments to the election legislation in Neum. I appreciate the invitation from the US and EU administrations, but after consulting with representatives of partners in the State coalition, I had to decline it. The US and EU are our most important allies, I have no doubts about that. However, Matthew Palmer and Angelina Eichhorst have fallen into the trap of ethno-national anachronism that Dragan Čović has imposed as the only option in these talks through blackmail, while at the same time Čović and his HDZ have held the Federation of BiH hostage for three years.

On the other hand, Milorad Dodik openly undermines the Constitution and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We do not want to be just some democratic-party decoration for Čović and Izetbegović, which some other party leaders have agreed to due to their own ego and need for importance in their own insignificance. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a STATE that should resolve open issues within its institutions, and the support of international partners is welcome and important, for example, like the positions of the Venice Commission...

The Independent Bloc and the STATE coalition advocate for the construction and respect of this country and its institutions, and therefore, under these circumstances, we do not see the purpose of participating in discussions on this topic at a time when the institutions of BiH are being attacked more fiercely than ever before," stated the president of the Independent Bloc, Senad Šepić.