Šepić: This country can and must do better

SARAJevo, (Patria) - Senad Šepić, president of the Independent Bloc, tells citizens ahead of the New Year 2019 that "a difficult year is behind us, marked by the fight for truth and justice of Davor Dragičević and Muriz Memić, who tragically lost their sons, and state institutions did not help in resolving these murders."

"Unfortunately, the murder of two Sarajevo police officers, Adis Šehović and Davor Vujnović, also remains unresolved. Demobilized fighters protested persistently for valid reasons. This was a year full of instability, political turmoil, and the maintenance of a self-serving system and its cronies. Along with the major migrant crisis, which only exposed our inefficient state, Bosnia and Herzegovina was struggling in 2018. What I spoke about as a major problem in the BiH Parliament two years ago, and which the ruling parties persistently ignored – the mass emigration of the BiH population – has reached proportions dangerous for the future of this country," said Šepić.

However, the day that was supposed to fundamentally change relations in the country, October 7th, when the General Elections were held, remained memorable for brutal election theft – the majority will of the citizens was stolen, and primarily counters, instead of voters, determined the composition of assemblies, parliaments, and the BiH Presidency. The Central Election Commission further cemented the status quo by violating the FBiH Constitution with its decision on filling delegates in the House of Peoples of the Federal Parliament.

"The Independent Bloc participated in the elections for the first time, and despite theft and various provocations, it managed to become a parliamentary party, and our elected parliamentarians, as well as activists, will show that politics can be conducted in a better, higher quality, more responsible, and transparent manner that will benefit citizens. On the foreign policy front, the current authorities have not shown the necessary capability and are still unable to answer the additional 655 questions sent to us by the European Commission.

The incompetence of this government is best illustrated by the fact that BiH, along with Kosovo, is the only country in the region that does not have candidate country status. The green light for activating the Membership Action Plan (MAP) for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should certainly be assessed positively," Šepić pointed out.

Speaking about world events, the president of the NB reminds that this year will be remembered for the brutal murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate in Istanbul.

"Following poor results in the provincial elections, the most powerful woman in the world, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, announced that she would no longer run for the leadership of the CDU and that this would be her last term as chancellor. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was elected as her party successor, and possibly as chancellor," Šepić stated.

For us in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said the head of the NB, there is nothing left but to remain persistent in the political, social, cultural, sports, and all other struggles so that this country can and must do better.

"The priority of the new authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina must be economic growth, job creation, halting the exodus of the population, a state of law for all, the European and NATO path, as well as a fair state for our demobilized fighters, for our hardworking farmers, for pensioners, and for all our people. This must be our common priority because only as such can Bosnia and Herzegovina be a prosperous homeland for our children and future generations," concluded Šepić.