Emergency session held over bridge collapse at Gradiška border crossing; Ministers oppose opening new crossing

The reason for convening the emergency telephone session of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the partial collapse of part of the bridge in Bosanska Gradiška overnight, which caused this important border crossing between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia to be closed to traffic this morning.

In accordance with the proposed conclusions, the Council of Ministers was supposed to instruct the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina to urgently and without delay undertake all necessary activities and measures within its jurisdiction for the temporary opening of the Gradiška Novi Most – Gornja Varoš border crossing, with the aim of ensuring the uninterrupted flow of people and goods.

The Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina were also supposed to receive instructions to urgently undertake all necessary activities within their respective competencies to ensure the smooth functioning of the temporary border crossing, including providing the necessary technical, personnel, and other conditions for it to become operational.

Košarac: “Bosniak political actions have always been directed against the interests of Srpska”

After Bosniak ministers in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina voted against opening this border crossing in Gradiška, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac said that the session reflected the full absurdity of Bosniak politics.

Košarac stressed that it had once again been shown that the “Trojka” coalition understands nothing, but that this does not prevent it, in cooperation with Zijad Krnjić from the Steering Board of the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from undermining any capacity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“All masks have fallen! Their obstruction of opening the new Gradiška border crossing, after the collapse of part of the bridge and the closure of the crossing to traffic, goes beyond political gamesmanship and is truly on the edge of common sense,” Košarac stated.

In a statement to SRNA, he said that Bosniak political actions have always been directed against the interests of Republika Srpska, even when this is against the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina itself.

“They are not even for Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are always and exclusively against Republika Srpska,” Košarac said.

The new Gradiška border crossing is not exclusively in the interest of Republika Srpska, Košarac added, but also of all citizens in Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as all businesses.

“How will they explain their decisions to citizens and businesses? Will they be held accountable for blocking foreign trade traffic and for the damage that the economies of both Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will suffer?” Košarac asked.

He emphasized that these obstructions are proof of the dysfunctionality of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that it is pointless to participate in the work of the Council of Ministers on the basis of blackmail.

“We can do the same and also reconsider participation in the work of the Council of Ministers during the week,” Košarac said.

On the bridge over the Sava River in Gradiška, a partial collapse of the concrete structure and fencing occurred overnight, causing a complete interruption of cross-border traffic for all categories of vehicles and pedestrians.