​​The Republic of Srpska has all characteristics of a state.

FISCAL STABILITY: We managed to maintain the stability of the budget and not once were salaries and pensions delayed.

The Opposition had the opportunity to rule and govern the Republic of Srpska, but they left nothing behind them.

People from the Opposition are not interested in helping our citizens but in taking advantage of political moments.

"We have never made any difference between the eastern and western part of the Republic of Srpska. The policy of the Opposition is the policy of noise and chaos characterized by empty talks frequently spinning. Our people have given up on them, as they have nothing to offer."

"I remember a time when some people from the present Opposition exercised the authority. It was then that we belonged to the poorest and heavily indebted countries, and although the economy was flourishing in Europe, nothing important was happening here."

"I am pleased with the fact that we managed to keep all the social benefits and rights at the same level, albeit in extremely difficult times. We have also managed to increase salaries and pensions by 7.3 percent."

"As of the Opposition, they could take no advantage of the floods, nor did they know how to help our citizens. As a matter of fact, they tried to politicize human misfortune. Not only are they bad politicians but bad people, too."

"Take for example, the President of the PDP Party, Mr Mladen Ivanic, who was at the spa during the floods. He was not there for his people, while our representatives waded through waist-deep water to reach and help our people. Then, he returns so refreshed and holds lectures how the Government has not done its part of the job."

"There are several possible solutions. First of all, it is necessary to find a better language of communication with the existing partner. The second variant would be that the Nikola Tesla Company takes over the factory."

The Republic of Srpska has a range of competences giving it a status of a state, highlighted Prime Minister Cvijanovic.

In the interview for the Novi Pecat Magazine, the Prime Minister points out that the part of the international community wants to transfer some of the competences at the BiH level, promising thus better functionality and efficiency.

"I am deeply convinced that the Republic of Srpska should keep all its competences prescribed by the Dayton Peace Agreement. Moreover, we need to be the environment guaranteeing equal rights," emphasized the Prime Minster, adding that nothing functions properly at the BiH level.

The institutions at the BiH level receive funds despite having solely the administrative character, while the real competences are in the domain of the entity institutions. Taking into account all that,  we can notice that the Republic of Srpska is being developed as a unity both politically and economically, but also in territorial and administrative terms.

I have no intention of criticizing BiH, I am just saying how things are. I cannot say BiH is a functional country when we all see contrary. As for the independence of the Republic of Srpska, I would say that is a long process which cannot happen overnight, said Prime Minsiter Cvijanovic.

The Novi Pecat: To what extent the way BiH is organized hinders the further development of the Republic of Srpska?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: We all saw what happened with the South Stream, which I believe is one of the best projects which should have been implemented in this area. However, all events between Russia, Ukraine and the EU has led us to a dead end, as the policy at the BIH level is irrational, though it would be logical to give the green light to the project.

The Novi Pecat: The general elections will be held soon and your tenure as Prime Minister will end. When you look back, are you satisfied with what your Government has achieved?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: We must be aware that the circumstances in which the Government functioned were extremely difficult; hence I am not sure if I would do certain things in a different manner. Under the pressure of the global economic crisis, we were left on our own.  

We endeavored hard to maintain the stability. Nevertheless, having recapitulated everything, I am satisfied with the work of the current Government. We managed to maintain the stability of the budget and not once were salaries and pensions delayed. I am pleased with the fact that we managed to keep all the social benefits and rights at the same level, albeit in extremely difficult times. We have also managed to increase salaries and pensions by 7.3 percent.

The Novi Pecet: Is it true that the Republic of Srpska is heavily indebted?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: No, it is not! We can service all our obligations regularly. This year is extremely difficult as we are repaying more than we borrowed, but the very next year we will experience significant unburdening. Compare the debt of EU Member States such as Croatia, Slovenia or, for instance, Serbia and Montenegro, and you will see that the Republic of Sprska is ranked better than those countries.  We have no high risk debt, nor are we among those heavily indebted countries.

The Opposition often refers to over- indebtedness, but I remember a time when some people from the present Opposition exercised the authority. It was then that we belonged to the poorest and heavily indebted countries, and although the economy was flourishing in Europe, nothing important was happening here. Nevertheless, the situation has changed now.

The Novi Pecat: How long it will take to recover the domestic economy from the catastrophic floods? What measures did the Government undertake to help entrepreneurs and farmers in repairing food damages?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: It will take us several years to recover. In some areas, we will repair the damage very soon, but in some parts of the RS it will take a while to normalize the situation.

The tragedy was that the floods claimed human lives, which is our painful loss. The floods also decimated so many material goods. However, we managed to stabilize the situation. You may ask yourself   who else in the region provides relief for flooded households, as we do, and who made a deal with the banks to enter together with business entities and the Government and later with beneficiaries, into arrangements in order to assist citizens in repairing damages. As you may know, that is not the case in the Federation of BiH, Croatia, Serbia… We introduced the flood relief programme shortly after the floods, and started awarding the Solidarity Fund grants in the form of the payment cards to our residents.

We immediately entered into arrangements with the international community in order to obtain loans, with a view to rehabilitating the damaged infrastructure.

As a responsible Government, we decided to do several things simultaneously. The first thing was to maintain the budget, and on the other side to establish the Solidarity Fund in order to carry out the rehabilitation activities through some forms of assistance and donations but also through personal  means and favorable loans.

The Novi Pecat: How is the process of raising funds for the Solidarity Fund going on? How do you comment on the fact that part of the Opposition was trying to use the floods as a pre-election campaign?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: The raising funds process is going very well. The funds are being collected from various sources and all are at the disposal of entrepreneurs and citizens. Part of the funds is collected through the solidarity contribution, which will last one year. As of the Opposition, they could take no advantage of the floods, nor did they know how to help our citizens. As a matter of fact, they tried to politicize human misfortune. Not only are they bad politicians but bad people, too. I can remember every moment during the floods, and explain what we were doing at that time. The Opposition politicians did nothing to save and help our people. Instead of that, they organized meaningless press conferences taking place on the day of mourning, which I find utterly appalling. Take for example, the President of the PDP Party, Mr Mladen Ivanic, who was at the spa during the floods. He was not there for his people, while our representatives waded through waist-deep water to reach and help our people. Then, he returns so refreshed and holds lectures how the Government has not done its part of the job. The Opposition thought that the Government would not take care of its people so that they could gloat over it. But the truth is that they are the ones who are inconsiderate of our people. They only want to score political points. I can say that the Opposition failed the test. We offered them to take the test once more time, but they failed again and went astray even more.

The Novi Pecat: How would you assess the behavior of some mayors during the floods?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic:  Some people backlashed the Government via the media despite our mutual agreement to help our citizens. I see that as a complete nonsense. It is well known that we sent a great amount of humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable areas, that is, Doboj and Bijelјina. But their mayors talked how they would be devastated were it not for the help by the Federation of BiH, which is not true.

There were also stories that the assistance was distributed selectively, which is thoroughly reprehensible. From the very first day of the floods, competent authorities did their job very well and should there be any irregularities, they surely will be sanctioned.

The Novi Pecat: What is the plan for solving the question of the textile industry in the municipality of Bileca after the termination of the contract with the former partner Imex International, which did not settle all obligations towards the workers?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: There are several possible solutions. First of all, it is necessary to find a better language of communication with the existing partner. The second variant would be that the Nikola Tesla Company takes over the factory. We all know the company has is a market and a costumer, but it is obvious that there is a discrepancy between the agreed business partner. On the other hand, through our investments, we now have the trained workers and equipment. We also have a costumer whose cooperation with the company is guaranteed regardless of who our partner is. Therefore, we should use that opportunity and ensure the continuation of the activities, and afterwards we will start further implementing this project.

The Novi Pecat: You promised that the Bema Shoe Factory will be assisted in hiring new staff. How do you plan to do that?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: The Bema Factory intends to expand its scope of activities, which implies creating additional 500 vacancies. There already exists a number of measures and incentives available to all those starting some production cycle. Some companies already used this advantage. We also support new employment by providing financial assistance.

The Novi Pecat: Are you satisfied with the work of the public enterprises, particularly the Sume RS (Eng. The Republic of Srpska Forests Company) and the Zelјeznice RS (Eng. The Republic of Srpska Railways Company? Have some deficiencies identified in the previous been eliminated?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: We have solved a lot of things. Nonetheless, when it comes to the Zeljeznice RS, there are still some things that need to be done. In the forthcoming period, we must modernize the structure of this company. As of the Sume RS, last year we managed to establish plans and activities for a very short period of time and are now recording positive financial results. I am convinced that the Sume RS is on the good way to become a profitable company and one of our resources we will be proud of. As already mentioned, we managed some things, which yielded results. However, there are still places where we must intervene.

The Novi Pecat: How would you respond to the criticism of the Opposition representatives that the authorities of the Republic of Srpska invest insufficiently in the municipality of Istocno Sarajevo? Are these criticisms justified?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: Those are just inanities, which can be proved by the indicators showing that the majority of investments are exactly in that area. For instance, the Ugljevik 3 thermal power plant, the Andricgrad…. We have never made any difference between the eastern and western part of the Republic of Srpska. The policy of the Opposition is the policy of noise and chaos characterized by empty talks frequently spinning. Our people have given up on them, as they have nothing to offer. They had the opportunity to rule and govern the Republic of Srpska, but they left nothing behind them.

The Novi Pecat: An economic war between the EU and Russia is ongoing. What do you think about the suggestions and recommendations addressed to BiH not to export to the Russian market?

Prime Minister Cvijanovic: That is an illustration of how certain political decisions and measures can cause severe economic repercussions. I see no logics behind such suggestions as Russia is a very powerful and important factor for many Member States and for the Western world in general.

We, too, are suffering the consequences from this attitude, as one of the consequences relates to the implementation of the South Stream project. Unfortunately, I am aware that we do not have such a powerful economy capable of exporting more than the sufficient amount to Russia. I am also aware that our goods, as well as the goods of other countries, do not meet the Russian standards. Of course, the Opposition interpreted this as not having sufficient goods to Russia.

This was followed by the statement of Mr Rasim Ljajic who on behalf of the Government of Serbia said that it was a pity that Serbia did not have enough goods to export. However, nobody reacted to that. We have to be serious regarding this issue as Russia has a big market and their needs are enormous.