The President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik and Serb Member and Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović have met today, in the Palace of the Republic, with the Prime Minister Radovan Višković and ministers in the new convocation of the Government of the Republic of Srpska.
After the meeting, the President of the Republic held a press conference.
“We have discussed about the Government's obligations and responsibilities today, about the challenges that await it”, said the President Dodik.
The President of Srpska emphasized that the new government had a significant number of new ministers which is 11, which requires a new dynamic.
The President of the Republic of Srpska stated that the degree of responsibility would be increased, above all of the public administration, and that the issue of people who are not grateful for working in some position in the public administration would be resolved.
“The government will deal with it in the next seven days. We will start cleaning up all those who are listed as employed but do not come to work. They have to leave the public sector. We will see what it looks like in seven days”, said the President Dodik.
The President of the Republic pointed out that the main priorities were the preservation of political and social stability, jobs and the economy, and ways to improve the public sector.
“We will focus on investments that will increase the gross domestic product. The Republic of Srpska continues with the growth of macroeconomic values, which is very significant, and we want to preserve the policy of salary growth”, added the President of Srpska.
The President Dodik reminded that from January 1 next year salaries would be increased by five percent and pensions by 14 percent, which also means an increase in veterans’ benefits.
“We are focused on strengthening the development and investment potential of the Republic of Srpska. This is a coalition Government and it continues to work that way”, said the President of the Republic and stated that the decision to give the mandate of the Prime Minister to Radovan Višković was correct.
The President of Srpska reiterated that when it comes to the BiH level, the commitment to preserve the constitutional position of Srpska remained, as well as preventing the transfer of any competences and the return of competences.
“We are ready for dialogue at the BiH level on these matters, with the condition of preserving the Republic of Srpska. We want to open up all possible forms of cooperation with the Federation of BiH, so we will wait for them to form their government in order to hold a joint session”, said the President Dodik.
The President of the Republic stated that he would wait for the formation of the Council of Ministers, in order for the Government of Srpska to request a joint meeting.
The President of the Republic of Srpska reminded that a joint session of the Government of Srpska and Serbia was planned in order to innovate the Agreement on Special Parallel Relations.
