DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, THE YEAR 2020 ENDED WITH POSITIVE BALANCE , THE DEBT OF REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA IS WITHIN THE LIMITS   

Since the beginning of the pandemic, our citizens are entitled to all health services regardless of the status of their health insurance cards ... In each and every place from Trebinje in the south to Novi Grad in the north, new buildings and facilities have been built – schools, sport halls and centers, roads, bridges, watersupply systems, street lights, hospitals, health centers, theatres, resorts ...

Journalist: Tatjana Paradjina

BANJA LUKA, 7 January /SRNА/ - Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska Radovan Višković in an interview with SRNA News Agency underlines that despite a very difficult year, marked by the fight against the coronavirus, the Republic of Srpska managed to close the year with positive accounts which must be underlined and the overall situation must be seen realistically without rough and unjustified criticism.

"I wish the unfortunate events from the past year never happen again and to no one. From the pandemic to the floods and the earthquake…We welcome 2021 with more optimism and with the belief that by the middle of the year we shall be able to return to normal way of life and regular work and forget 2020 as soon as possible”, Višković said.

The Prime Minster emphasized that over the past year the Republic of Srpska has managed to service its financial obligations regularly and had no outstanding payments to the pensioners, farmers or others while all costs, social contributions and other disbursements funded from the budget have been regularly paid without any delay.

"I shall leave it to the analysts to say what we had done and how successful, but I would like them to be realistic because while listening to some media and some economists who tend to give a very dark picture of the situation, one wonders if it is worthwhile getting up in the morning at all. The opposition criticizes and fights for power trying to bring out as many bad things as possible before our citizens just to gain power. This is politics, but the reality is that we serviced our obligations regularly as if there were no pandemic and without any confusions", Mr. Višković said.

328 MILLION HAD BEEN ALLOCATED FROM THE BUDGET TO THE HEALTH AND TO THE REAL SECTOR

Mr. Viškovic says the Government allocated 328 million BAM from the budget to assist the health sector and the real sector and the real budget was below BAM 2.5 billion.

"When you add to that almost a billion marks for the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund and the debt, you reach a budget of three billion and six hundred million, which was the second budget adjustment for 2020. Some constantly emphasize that the health sector has debts, which is true, but has anyone wondered if any other country in the region, Europe or America provided its citizens with free health insurance since the outbreak of the pandemic until today. No country except the Republika Srpska and I am very proud of that.

In developed western countries, which our people perceive as promised land, no one cares about you if you have no health insurance. You can lie on the street for half a day - no one will look at you, while in Republic of Srpska, since the beginning of the pandemic, all citizens have health insurance and get all health services. None of this is free and someone has to pay for it which is  the Government and the institutions that would pay from the budget", the Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska pointed out.

Speaking about the frequent criticism of one billion BAM debt in the health care system, Višković says that this debt was reduced by more than 60 million last year compared to 2019.

"All our health care institutions have paid taxes and contributions in 2020, unlike some previous years. I am not a kind of person who likes to talk about his successes, but sometimes you have to since those who criticize you are capable only of criticizing. Are they wondering what would have happened if we had not invested more than a billion BAM in our health system in the past few years and where our patients would be placed in Bijeljina, Zvornik, Banja Luka, Foča, East Sarajevo, Trebnje, Gradiška, Prijedor, etc.", Višković emphasized.

OUR DOCTORS ARE HIGHLY APPRECIATED AND RECOGNIZED IN THE WHOLE WORLD, THEY ARE THE PRIDE AND HEROES OF REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA

The Prime Minsiter says it hurts and insults him to see that our people seem not to appreciate what we have, but people who come from the side and praise us and what has been done.

"Recently, representatives of the World Health Organization visited the University-Clinical Center in Banja Luka and said that they expected to encounter devastation, but the opposite happened - they found very positive things and stated that they can learn something from us. In their report, which was not written by the politicians, SNSD, or the Government of the Republic of Srpska, or the Prime Minister, they stated that the internist wards in hospitals in Doboj and Banja Luka, according to the results of examined, admitted and recovered patients, were among the best in Europe, as non-resident UN representative stated. Our citizens have not even heard of this because we seem not to appreciate and promote our own achievements", Višković said and added that the health system in Republic of Srpska was perfectly fit and cabable to provide medical services and carry out all medical procedures during the pandemic, just as health systems of Slovenia, Germany, Italy, the USA, Russia and Serbia do.

" We can only hear criticism that the health sector has a debt of one billion BAM. The debt is there but the health system is no a manufacturer that makes a product that can be sold and charged, it provides health services that are getting higher in quality, performed in better, more modern facilities, with modern equipment and professional staff. Our staff consists of people who are recognized, known and respected from America to Banja Luka. Dr. Pedja Kovacevic is an expert who can get a job on any continent tomorrow, Antonija Verhaz, Vlado Djajic, a team of people in Bijeljina, Doboj, Maric brothers who work as doctors in Foča ...

This does not mean that I favorize or diminish the importance of any doctor we have, because majority of them across the country are experts and we have to bow to them and take off our hats. They are the pride and heroes of the Republic of Srpska, but in spite of everything, there are some among the opposition parties who dare talking about the health system. That is shameful. "These people have shown that they are capable to work in the most difficult conditions, to fight against the virus that is unknown in the world, and they have been doing that for nine months continuously, without any rest", Višković pointed out.

He stated that the institutions of the Republic of Srpska helped the health workers in the sense that they never lacked any necessary equipment and medical supplies and that they were able to adequately react and provide the necessary services to the citizens.

"Someone deserves credit for all that and those are certainly health workers and our institutions, led by the Government of the Republic of Srpska. This is not praising for the sake of praising but a fact that can easily be ckecked", Prime Minister Višković said.

THE DEBT OF REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA IS NOT TOO HIGH, THE PUBLIC DEBT ACCOUNTS FOR 43 PERCENT OF GDP

Asked about the debt of the Republic of Srpska and the current economic situation, Prime Minister Višković says the debt is not too high and accounts for 43 percent of gross domestic product, total debt is 55.6 percent, and the legal limit is up to 60 percent of GDP.

He stated that only in the Republic of Srpska the public talks about alleged over-indebtedness, although the statistics say otherwise and cited the example of Montenegro, which before taking a EUR 750 million loan was in debt of more than 120 percent of GDP.

"We built many facilities that would remain to our children and our grandchildren, our future. Of course we had to take loans since we had almost no facilities. Talking to the biggest opponents of this Government, I have only one question - is Republic of Srpska today the same as ten years ago and the answer is always the same – it is not.

Of course, it is not the same, we have built new buildings and facilities in every town in Republic of Srpska from Trebinje in the south to Novi Grad, building schools, sport halls, roads, bridges, streets, water supply, lighting, hospitals, health centers, theaters, sports fields, picnic areas ... If we want to build, we have to borrow, because all that money goes to projects. We do not want to introduce new taxes and charges", Višković pointed out.

The Prime Minister said that one should be realistic and bare truth should be considered while being ready to consider well-intentioned criticism. "I don't think that everything we do is great, we can always do better and we try to work better for the benefit of the citizens of Republic of Srpska because this is our country and we all have the same goal to do better", Mr. Višković said.

THE GUARANTEE FUND OF THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA IS THE ONLY OF THIS KIND IN THE REGION

Recalling that since the beginning of the pandemic until today, 2,500 people more have been employed more than those that lost their jobs which is an official data of the Employment Bureau, Prime Minister says.

"During the pandemic, 21,000 people lost their jobs, which is a lot but on the other hand 23,500 got jobs. The Government got involved and helped those who lost their jobs. In 2019, all those who lost their jobs the Employment Bureau provided assistance in the monthly amount of 400 to 900 BAM for six months to two years depending on the years of service. For those needs, we set aside 11 million BAM in 2019 and in 2020, during the pandemic, 24 million "Even during the fight against the coronavirus and allocation of huge financial resources that were not planned, we found a way to help people who lost their jobs to survive in that worst moment", Prime Minister said.

According to him, the Government, through the Employment Bureau, also offered the possibility of self-employment of veterans, children of fallen soldiers and war invalids.

"The amount of self-employment assistance has increased for all categories of people to BAM 10,000 while previously it was 4,000 for veterans, 6,000 for war invalids and 8,000 for the children of fallen soldiers. And that is one of the ways to help people start their own business. Also, in the budget for 2021, we planned a Compensation Fund of 90 million which did not exist before because it was not needed, and now we had to include it into the budget and the reserve funds.

We also have the Guarantee Fund of BAM 238 million established by the Government of  Republic of Srpska and it is the only Fund that is operational in the entire region and through which we guarantee 70 percent of the loan that a business entity receives. Loans amount to 50,000 to 400,000 for seven years with a grace period of three years and the Government guarantees 70 percent of the loan taken by the business entity from the budget. When we take into account the amount of 328 million that we allocated to the health and the real sector, that is more than 500 million and then some say that we borrowed 600 million. Yes, but we gave everything to deal with the consequences of the pandemic on the economy", Prime Minister of Republic of Srpska explained.

He stated only for the costs of disinfection and hygiene process in primary and secondary schools during the pandemic, the Government had unforeseen costs that amounted to almost half a million BAM per month.

"It is just a small example of our extraordinary allocations, but in spite of everything, at the end of 2020, we were in a position to pay emergency aid for our municipalities affected by the earthquake, which was also unforeseen expense", the Prime Minister said.

REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA WAS THE FIRST TO INTRODUCE RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS, VACCINES COULD BE AVAILABLE BY END OF JANUARY

Answering the question when vaccines could be expected to be delivered, the Prime Minsiter said it did not depend only on Republic of Srpska.

We are in the Covax program together with 80 other countries, including BiH. As far as Republic of Srpska is concerned, we have fulfilled our obligations and paid the sum 100 percent in advance for 400,000 doses of vaccine for 200,000 citizens. A larger amount is not allowed considering that “all countries in the first stage can count on vaccinating 20 percent of its population and we must respect that. We expect delivery in the second half of January, and the priority will be people in nursing homes, health workers, police and people who want to be vaccinated", Prime Minister said.

He emphasized that the vaccination will be on a voluntary basis and no one will force anyone to receive the vaccine if they do not want to.

In an interview with Srna Agency, Mr. Višković reminded that Republic of Srpska also had contacted the Russian manufacturers of vaccines adding that extensive documentation had already arrived regarding the "Sputnik V" vaccine, which has been translated and submitted to the BiH Medicines Agency, which should give its consent.

"No one in Republic of Srpska is sitting idle, we have been active participants in it since day one. We are among the few in the region to introduce rapid antigen tests for coronavirus in May and we have saved the health system since then, because no citizen could not enter the hospital until and unless being tested and the results would be ready within ten minutes. This is something that Republic of Srpska was the first to do and thanks to that, the virus was not introduced into health institutions", Mr. Višković emphasized.

The Prime Minister of Srpska expressed his belief that with the increased volume of vaccination, the pandemic of coronavirus will finally be behind us and the world would return to the period before the pandemic in the first half of this year.

"In 2020, we all went through this situation together, and I wouldn't wish this to my worst enemy but I am proud that we coped with all these challenges. No one can accuse me of any scandals or criminal activities, they can hate me, but I love all those who criticize me, because they are citizens of Republika Srpska. There are good people and those that aren't. I look at it this way and divide people if they are good or bad no matter where they are from, what is their political affiliation, ethnicity or the color of their skin", Mr. Višković said.

The Prime Minister stressed once more he was proud of the strength of the Republic of Srpska and its institutions which confirm the importance of their existence and unity day after day. "I am not saying this for political or fashionable reasons, this is life and I am very glad that we reacted immediately and promptly during the floods, heavy snowfalls, storms, earthquakes and now in a time of pandemic. It is our obligation and an integral part of my job as it turned out to be very important to have institutions in place, to act united in all times and to be with the people whenever it was difficult for them", Višković said.

He emphasized that the pandemic showed once again the importance and strength of the institutions of the Republic of Srpska and that such an outcome at the end of 2020 would not have happened if that had not been the case.

"If we had to wait for another government level to react, it would take a long time to reach a solution and help our citizens", Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska Radovan Višković concluded.