Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Republika Srpska Report to UN, UNcirculated, Talks of IMF Loan Delay, Trashes Inzko



By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, May 14 -- When Bosnia and Herzegovina are on the Security Council's agenda, and High Representative Valentin Inzko comes to brief, Republika Srpska files its own reports with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who declines to circulate them.
  Inner City Press has obtained a copy of Republika Srpska's most recent report, dated May 8, 2013.
  
Among with bragging about its anti-corruption chops, and trashing High Representative Valentin Inzko, Republika Srpska blames the FBiH for flubbing an International Monetary Fund loan:

"Not for the first time, the FBiH’s lack of fiscal discipline has badly delayed the disbursement of vital IMF loans to both the FBiH and the RS. On 27 February, the IMF said it would not sign off on the next tranche of its loan to BiH until the FBiH adopted a comprehensive law that regulates retirement, including the issue of veterans... IMF mission head Ron van Rooden 'made clear the onus was on the Federation parliament.' The FBiH’s inability or unwillingness to act on this issue held hostage disbursement of a loan that is crucial to both the FBiH and the RS. It was not until 15 April that the FBiH Parliament finally adopted the necessary law."
And now, what with the IMF? We'll see.