INTERVIEW: MILAN DUNOVIĆ, VICE-PRESIDENT OF FBIH
By: Tarik MOĆEVIĆ
SARAJEVO, March 19 (ONASA) – In an interview for ONASA Independent News Agency Vice-President of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) Milan Dunović talks about plans during his mandate, relations with President and second Vice-President of FBiH, process of formation and expectations from the new FBiH Government, position of Serbs in FBiH and other topics.
ONASA: What will be the priorities during your term in office?
DUNOVIĆ: Political stability will be the strategic goal of my future work, all with the aim to avoid the previous scenarios that have afflicted our country. We should all seriously address the current problems that we encounter daily, and begin to work actively to resolve them. Socio-economic reform will also be our priority, because without economic stability there can be no political stability. It is necessary to ensure dignified life for all citizens of BiH.
I consider multiethnicity the highest value of the peoples and citizens of BiH. Therefore I want to serve by example and advocate for the return of all citizens, and their integration through the education system and employment.
ONASA: Could you explain what the position of FBiH Vice-President entails and what are the authorities of this position?
DUNOVIĆ: Vice-Presidents of FBiH, apart from performing the duties entrusted to them by the President or the Speaker of FBiH Parliament, cooperate with the President of the Federation of BiH in all situations where Vice-Presidents consent is necessary. A current example is the appointment of the FBiH Government, appointed by the President of FBiH with the approval of the Vice-Presidents. Appointment is preceded by consultations with the Prime Minister or the PM Designate. A reverse process is also possible, when the Vice-Presidents give consent to the President for the dismissal of the FBiH Government.
ONASA: How would you assess cooperation with FBiH President Marinko Čavara and other Vice-President Melika Mahmutbegović so far?
DUNOVIĆ: Although we come from different political parties, which have different program objectives and measures, I believe that cooperation is good. The programs of all political parties should lead to political stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I will personally try to bring cooperation to a higher level than what the citizens of FBiH are accustomed to, and to change the prejudices of the political “money grabbing” that have been growing for a long time. With my associates in the Cabinet I will try to offer some projects which lead to improved living conditions at the micro level, especially in returnee areas.
ONASA: Do you expect that the Budget of FBiH will be adopted by 31 March, when the deadline for interim financing expires?
DUNOVIĆ: Yes I do. It is hard to make forecasts, but I believe that the life of citizens in the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina is already tough enough, so I do not even want to think about the possibility of failure to adopt the Budget of FBiH.
ONASA: Representatives of SDA, HDZ BiH and DF on Thursday reached the agreement on division of departments in the FBiH Government. Are you satisfied with this agreement?
DUNOVIĆ: What it means to be satisfied?! As a member of the Democratic Front (DF), the political party which puts the state and citizens’ interests always in front of the interests of the party and personal interests, I think it is good that the agreement on the formation of the FBiH Government has finally been reached. I hope that all the parties that make up the parliamentary majority will offer experts as candidates for ministers. In consultation with the candidate for prime minister I will insist on expertise and defined work programs.
ONASA: Do you believe that the new FBiH Government will accept, and be able to implement, DF’s plan of economic reforms “Vision 14-22” in whose drafting you personally participated?
DUNOVIĆ: I will not be satisfied as Vice President of the FBiH and as a member of the Economic Rights Council of the DF if future convocation of the Government fails to implement economic reforms that the DF predicted in economic program “Vision 14-22”. A lot of work has been invested in the development of this program and I am sure that it was done in a way that provides an opportunity for economic recovery of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
ONASA: After your candidacy for Vice-President of FBiH, comments came from Republika Srpska (RS) that you cannot be a legitimate representative of Serb population in FBiH. How do you comment on such statements?
DUNOVIĆ: I really do not know why certain individuals think that they can issue a certificate for legitimacy. The choice of the joint list on which there were the President and two Vice-Presidents of FBiH was conducted in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Constitution. Let’s put the final end on this issue and let’s start working.
ONASA: How do you see the current position of Serbs in the Federation of BiH and what to you plan on improving it as the Vice-President of this entity?
DUNOVIĆ: The position of all citizens and peoples throughout BiH is extremely difficult. We should finally start working on economic reforms. They will not be simple, and the results will not be visible in the short term.
The position of Serbs in the Federation of BiH can be observed through several aspects, as, for example, the position of Serb returnees in FBiH, the problem of weak political engagement of young educated people of Serb nationality, integration of returnees into society through the education system and the like. All these problems require special attention and meticulous approach. I will try to work with my team on the affirmation of multi-ethnicity, among other things through solving the above-defined problems.
I believe that the Serbs in the Federation of BiH must themselves contribute to solving these problems, but not in the way individuals from RS are trying to show. Serbs living in the Federation of BiH should be more socially engaged in this entity and thus personally contribute to their own better position.