Republika Srpska Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic said at a conference titled “20 years since Dayton – prospects for progress of reform processes in BiH,” which is being held in Washington, that the Dayton decentralised structure fits into the European trends and practices, that it promotes economic growth and that it should be supported.
On the first day of the conference, Cvijanovic said that in the past 20 years the European path was used for actions of the high representatives to the detriment of the Entities, which is why stalemates were frequent in meeting certain obligations.
“During the most of the time we witnessed strong efforts headed by high representatives to impose centralisation despite a legal framework which was established by the Agreement and the Constitution, which efforts produced results that were utterly harmful for BiH,” Cvijanovic said at the Centre for Transatlantic Relations at the John Hopkins University at a panel discussion on “the reform agenda: path to getting an EU candidate status – new aspects in the domestic politics of BiH,” where FBiH Prime Minister Fadil Novalic also spoke.
Cvijanovic said that Republika Srpska is implementing an EU reform programme for BiH and that the Reform Agenda is fully compatible with the Republika Srpska Economic Policy, says a press release from the Republika Srpska Public Relations Office.
Regarding the economic reforms, Cvijanovic said that Republika Srpska is among the first in the region to have started reforms in business registration, including a new system which enabled businesses to register in only three days, which the European Commission assessed as a significant progress in improving the business environment.
She stressed the commitment of the Republika Srpska Government to implement reforms in the fiscal area with the aim of strengthening the accountability and financial discipline, suppressing the underground economy and illegal work, which will enable greater employment, flexibility and productivity and investing in infrastructure.
Cvijanovic said that the Government, in cooperation with international financial organisations, is working on health care reforms, and that it is having intensive talks with social partners on amending labour legislation which should contribute to protecting labour rights and eliminating illegal work.
Having in mind that the economic reforms are in the competence of the Entities, Cvijanovic added that the Republika Srpska and the FBiH Governments have a good cooperation, and that they are jointly undertaking activities aimed at equalising and making similar solutions in the area of the economy and cooperation with international financial institutions.
Regarding the operations of the BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office, Cvijanovic said that Republika Srpska has been trying for two years now to reform institutions at the BiH level which are ineffective, inefficient or contrary to the BiH Constitution, and particularly judicial institutions which were imposed by the high representative.
She said that the planned referendum in Republika Srpska has a basis in the BiH Constitution and international law, and every attempt to disrespect the right to a referendum which asks citizens to voice their opinion would represent a violation of their rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
“The referendum is all the more necessary because the high representative insists that laws which he imposed cannot be changed and because he prevented any legal review of his decisions,” said the Republika Srpska Prime Minister.
She added that simultaneously with preparations for the referendum, Republika Srpska is energetically following the justice reform as part of the structured dialogue on justice with the EU.
The Republika Srpska and FBiH Finance Ministers, Zoran Tegeltija and Jelka Milicevic, respectively, will speak at a panel discussion on “what BiH can do on the path to stabilisation and prosperity – development of private sector, improvement of business environment and reforms.”