Last Session Before Break: Sparks Fly Among MPs

Right at the start of the session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was clear that today would be exciting, reports a reporter from the Patria news agency. Immediately upon proposing new items for inclusion on the agenda, "sparks" flew between certain MPs. 

Denis Bećirović, an MP from the SDP, requested that the agenda include the item "Information from the Council of Ministers on the intensification of attacks on Bosniak returnees in the RS with special reference to the brutal abuse of Nermin Hanifić."

- Regarding the item concerning the attack on Vučić, we request that it be added that this was a commemoration for the victims of genocide and the 20th anniversary of the genocide. Only for such an agenda can we vote. Therefore, we request the removal of this agenda item - said Bećirović.

The item was titled as consideration, i.e., adoption of conclusions regarding the events during the commemoration in Potočari on July 11, during which the Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, was attacked. The House of Representatives requests all competent authorities in BiH to urgently identify the perpetrators of the attack and the responsibility of all persons in accordance with their jurisdictions. This initiative was submitted by Aleksandra Pandurević on behalf of the SDS MP Club.

Momčilo Novaković made his colleagues laugh by saying he requested the formation of a parliamentary commission to verify whether Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, had read all the letters he received. 

- Of course, I was joking. We have gone too far, and if we continue like this, I fear we will have difficulty even gathering a quorum for this parliament, let alone for some commissions - Novaković pointed out.

Saša Magazinović asked Pandurević to withdraw these items and to discuss them in August.

- No one's crown will fall off their head if we postpone this discussion until August. Let's send a positive message from this parliament - Magazinović emphasized.

Pandurević stated that they are ready to withdraw the items, on the condition that Bećirović publicly apologizes to the colleagues whose signatures he misused by sending them to the UN.

- We have the consideration of information regarding the sending of a letter to the UN Secretary-General, and we will withdraw it if Bećirović apologizes - Pandurević emphasized.

Denis Bećirović stated that he has never said even half a harsh word to anyone. 

- On the other hand, Pandurević has been expressing the crudest words for years. The thesis that we are somehow the ones stirring things up, while the SDS is calming things down, would be laughable if it weren't so ugly. Do you underestimate 25 colleagues? Do you think they are naive people? In the end, I am not afraid of your slander. I have no problem with you continuing to write columns, just don't touch the state of BiH or the Dayton Agreement, and I call on my colleagues not to fall for your propaganda - Bećirović emphasized.

Mirsad Đonlagić (SBB) said that all this ugly atmosphere was created to avoid talking about the white bread (i.e., real issues).

- We have quite a few challenges for supplementing the agenda. I request a half-hour break to agree on what we will do, because the proposals are serious - Đonlagić emphasized.

As before, MPs from the SNSD requested the removal of Šefik Džaferović (SDA), the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH. Staša Košarac recited the initiative for Džaferović's removal.

- We have repeatedly requested that this be placed on the agenda. The latest events, regarding the letter sent to Ban Ki-moon, show that we were right. We request his removal because, together with 24 other MPs, he sent a letter on the memorandum of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, and conclusions were sent that are untrue - Košarac emphasized, stating that Ban Ki-moon was deceived and that the Constitution of BiH and the House's Rules of Procedure were violated.

After the conclusion of the discussion on the agenda, a half-hour break was given.