Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović said that she had discussed with Minister of Finance and Treasury Srđan Amidžić in the Council of Ministers how to get out of the crisis related to the non-existence of the BiH budget, and stated that at that meeting it was proposed that workers who were harmed by the failure to adopt the budget be sent a one-time financial aid of around 1,000 KM.

Cvijanović stated that Amidžić said that there are financial possibilities for this aid.

“Then, after the adoption of the budget, let’s move to normal and regular financing, which would include the inclusion of these increases in regular monthly payments,” Cvijanović told reporters in Banja Luka.

She also said that the budget should be achievable, implemented, constitutional and in line with the rules for its preparation.

“We talked to everyone who was relevant about how, at least to some extent, to repair the damage caused to the workers, given that they had to wait for the budget all this time, and that budget was obviously the subject of bickering and certain subterfuges or sending certain proposals that it was immediately known could not receive the necessary support,” Cvijanović stated.

She recalled that on several occasions she had submitted the budget as prepared by the relevant ministry to the session of the Presidency of BiH for procedure.

“We wanted that budget to pass so that we could fulfill all the obligations that were necessary, leaving room even then for certain corrections that might eventually occur. Unfortunately, those two proposals did not pass the Presidency because the other two members voted against it,” Cvijanović told reporters in Banja Luka.