Turković responds to Konaković: Opening consulates in Rijeka and Novi Pazar is a decision and order of the BiH Presidency

(Patria) - I see that some find it controversial that the General Consulates of BiH in Rijeka and Novi Pazar were opened, said today former Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Bisera Turković, responding to a comment by Elmedin Konaković, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"They forget that this was a decision and order of the BiH Presidency, which was implemented, thereby strengthening the diplomatic-consular network of BiH. I understand that the intention is to divert public attention from the problems in the Osmorka coalition, where the SDP, as the largest party in that coalition, has been completely humiliated and outplayed.

But half-truths and misinformation cannot be presented to the public. And the truth is as follows: the general consulates were opened legally, according to the Decision of the BiH Presidency. The countries where the consulates were opened gave their consent, and their state officials attended the opening.

The general consuls had to be appointed by the BiH Presidency, and the staffing systematization had to be approved by the Council of Ministers of BiH. However, the coalition partners and their leaders from SNSD and HDZ blocked this for months, about which I spoke publicly on several occasions and sent urgent requests.

They tried to trade on this and pressure me to approve enormous funds for the purchase of the UIO building," said Turković.

She added that, of course, she did not allow that, but she did not give up on expanding the DKP network and implementing the decision of the BiH Presidency, which is in the interest of numerous BiH citizens who gravitate towards those consulates.

"If the new government will dismantle even what has been built, instead of continuing to build the state, then we are entering a very uncertain future. If the new leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to prove itself, let it immediately open eight BiH embassies according to the Decision of the BiH Presidency! Statements that say something is 'probably' are the pinnacle of political manipulation, where someone is accused of something that is, in their view, 'probable'. A responsible politician checks the truth, then says what is certain, and does not accuse based on 'probably'," added Turković.