The Management Board of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH (MB ITA BiH) did not give consent for opening a new border crossing at Bosanska Gradiška. This was confirmed by BiH Finance Minister Srđan Amidžić (SNSD), stating that only Zijad Krnjić, an expert from the FBiH, opposed the opening.
During his public address, Amidžić made a series of insults against Krnjić, using rhetoric similar to that often employed by SNSD leader Milorad Dodik. He spoke about Muslims and claimed that BiH cannot function.
- I thought I would say all sorts of things, Zoka (Zoran Tegeltija, director of ITA BiH, ed. note) was calming me down. The FBiH is home to a large number of Bosniaks, and there are also many Muslims, and Krnjić is a Muslim who punishes the Bosniak, Serbian and Croatian peoples. If you asked him, he would punish us like Jews in World War II. Someone has to die for him to be satisfied. Can it ever occur to a normal person that a man does not want border crossings to be opened - shouted a visibly nervous Amidžić.
Hatred towards RS
Amidžić then accused Krnjić of alleged hatred towards citizens of Republika Srpska. However, Krnjić is not against opening a new border crossing, but insists that new revenue distribution coefficients be determined first and that the debt of RS to the Federation of BiH be settled, which, according to his position, should have been resolved earlier.
- The bridge is collapsing and at 13.05 he is saying he is against opening a new border crossing. He is not a Bosniak but an ordinary Muslim who hates Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks. Nothing is sacred to him. Is this a normal state, can anyone normal explain this. Well, Dodik is too liberal in his views. This is a place of hatred from political Sarajevo towards RS and proof that BiH cannot function. When has someone from RS obstructed some project in the FBiH? I blame the SDA because it is an SDA expert who did not influence him, but also the Troika for not removing that expert and not appointing a normal person who is not driven by hatred - said Amidžić.
Hates everyone
Although he accused Krnjić of "hating everyone including his own people," Amidžić did not speak about the reasons why Krnjić refuses to support the changes to regulations necessary for opening a new border crossing, namely the demands for proper distribution of VAT revenues from ITA BiH.
- This is symbolic that BiH cannot exist. We called a session of the Council of Ministers and the Bosniaks also said there that it cannot. Either we will make this our border crossing of RS, but it will not be yours either, Zijad. This is not a normal country, this country has no future. They should send us to Africa, I am frustrated. He has dispelled any illusion that BiH can exist - said Amidžić.
After journalists' questions about debts between entities, Amidžić also mentioned a debt of 30 million KM which, he claims, is owed to Republika Srpska.
- Zijad Krnjić's idea is to pay what is owed to the FBiH, and what is owed to RS to remain pending - said Amidžić, calling Krnjić "evil".
We remind you that Krnjić has for months refused to give consent because he insists that the MB ITA BiH first determine new coefficients and settle the debt of the RS entity to the Federation of BiH.
Additional pressure from Republika Srpska came after a bridge collapsed late last night at the Stara Gradiška border crossing, effectively blocking this border crossing.