This interview with Zeljka Cvijanovic, the RS Minister for Economic Affairs and Regional Cooperation, was originally publish in Serbian, in Glas Srpske. The following English translation was commissioned by BiHDaytonProject.com.
Date: 12/08/20011 22.00 By: Željka Dobrić – Glas Srpske
‘We need to arrive at accurate financial indicators that will make it possible to see what is useful and what is detrimental. It is very important to arrive at a clear division of accountability in BiH, and doing so will prevent one level of government causing financial or any other form of damage to any other level of government,’ said Željka Cvijanović, RS Minister of Economic Relations and Regional Co-operation, in an interview with Glas Srpske.
‘One should not forget that there are numerous agencies, directorates and other bodies at the BiH level; we almost never see their benefits, and they keep costing citizens of both entities dear. It should also be remembered that, during the economic crisis, the BiH level showed no solidarity in pursuing austerity measures.’
Glas: Milorad Dodik, the RS President, has announced that the National Assembly will, come autumn, debate a report on the damage suffered by the RS at the hands of BiH and its institutions. What will that document contain?
Cvijanović: RS Government Ministries have begun to compile information to be contained in this report. The timeframe for its drafting has been established. This is not the first time that the Government has been dealing with the issue of the relationship between the joint institutions of BiH and those of the RS; this report should provide a comprehensive picture and a complete representation of this relationship, particularly as regards its financial implications. One should not forget that there are numerous agencies, directorates and other bodies at the BiH level; we almost never see their benefits, and they keep costing citizens of both entities dear. It should also be remembered that, during the economic crisis, the BiH level showed no solidarity in pursuing austerity measures – although it is by its very nature mainly administrative – while Entity institutions made cuts even though it is they who deal with real, everyday issues faced by the public.
Glas: What will the report particularly underline?
Cvijanović: The report should show the actual situation and the actual effects of the transfer of powers, and intends to arrive at accurate financial indicators that will make it possible to see what is useful and what is detrimental. It is very important to arrive at a clear division of accountability in BiH, and doing so will prevent one level of government causing financial or any other form of damage to any other level of government.
Glas: What sort of resolution do you expect the RS National Assembly to take after the report is presented, and what could the next steps be?
Cvijanović: It would be wrong for me to make any judgments beforehand about what way discussion in parliament could go, or what sort of resolution the debate can result in, but I am convinced that the interests of the RS and the care for the preservation of its constitutional functions and financial stability will take centre stage. Any resolution taken will, obviously, determine the specific steps to be taken afterwards.
Glas: Sarajevo has of late been quite vocal in accusing the RS of obstructing the adoption of laws required by the EU for granting pre-accession funds?
Cvijanović: The RS has not been obstructing anything; we have, if anything, been pointing out the fact that the process of planning for EU assistance and access to EU funds needs to be placed within appropriate bounds. And we have been using quite legitimate means of doing so. We do not support the implementation of programmes whereby powers or activities are envisaged to be transferred to the BiH level just because someone took it upon himself to define that as a project task, or as a political task. We will not allow anyone but us to make changes to our project proposals. This is, therefore, what it is all about; no obstruction is intended, we merely ask for needs of the RS to be taken into account in all aspects of the process of European integration, including access to EU funds. It will be difficult to convince us that things will work better if some powers and functions are transferred to the joint institution level, because what we have seen so far is completely the opposite.
Glas: Is a solution nevertheless to be expected, to avoid jeopardising EU assistance?
Cvijanović: President Dodik has mentioned areas where projects are in dispute. As for an assessment of how acceptable they are, well, that is based on an analysis. This is nobody’s personal opinion, but rather a matter where all ministries of the RS came together to analyse these projects and each provided its assessment. Access to EU funds through joint projects is an area where, for instance, partnership between all beneficiaries could come to the fore, if the process was being approached as it should be. It would be logical to use EU funding for national projects to make the European integration process a prospect that is appealing rather than disagreeable. At any rate, there is yet room to arrive at good project proposals that will benefit all.
Glas: What is the status of responses to Štefan Füele’s questionnaire provided as part of the structured dialogue on the BiH judiciary?
Cvijanović: Responses provided by all relevant institutions have been merged and the translation of these documents is being finalised. As requested by the BiH Council of Ministers, the documents are to be submitted to Brussels by the deadline, and we will have another chance to look over them before they are finally despatched.
Glas: Can we expect a new meeting in September and a new set of recommendations, as announced?
Cvijanović: I believe that we will keep to the agreed-on schedule and that the European Commission will initiate these activities and any further steps once it analyses the documents we submit.
Crisis
Glas: Does the RS Government intend to follow Serbia’s lead in organising a meeting with economic experts over forecasts threatening the outbreak of a new economic crisis?
Cvijanović: No-one is immune from global events; all necessary measures need to be taken to alleviate the effects of the current crisis and prepare for a new downturn, if the forecasts should prove true. Events that have taken place over the past few years across the globe have led all governments to put into place precautionary mechanisms and measures to prevent or adequately repair any damage. The RS Government has taken the same stance, and is planning to take new steps in that direction.
