Bosnia’s outgoing Bosniak Presidency Chairman Bakir Izetbegovic told N1 that during his mandate, over 70,000 new jobs were made, mostly in the private sector. For a president, he said he is not a rich man, and in three to four days, he is going to be “unemployed and listed at the employment office.”

“I live a very humble life. I'm quite poor for a president. I have a house, no car and two dunams of land,” Izetbegovic said in an interview with N1.

He never denied that Bosnian citizens are poor but added they are getting less poor. In favour of these claims, he said that over 70,000 new jobs were made during his mandate, mostly in the private sector. One of the reasons for the reduction of unemployment is people leaving the country, adding that “this is Bosnia’s biggest issue.”

“European economy is growing, and its population is decreasing, and that’s where our people see their chance. Germany alone needs 1.4 million workers, offering good working conditions,” Izetbegovic said.

He then noted that even those with jobs are leaving the country.“Every family leaving our country for EU is costing us almost BAM 1 million (some EUR 500,000),” he added.

“When the EU takes 1,000 of our families, they’re taking BAM 1 billion from us. They give us EUR several million through IPA funds and take away BAM 1 billion,” the leader of the strongest Bosniak party, the Democratic Action Party (SDA) said.

One of the reasons for their departure is the post-war atmosphere in the country.

Speaking about his work in the Presidency, during the two terms he served, he said he was satisfied with what he did.

“I defended Bosnia’s interests and dignity. I worked hard, and I think I was quite successful,” Izetbegovic said, adding that he sees himself responsible for unblocking the country’s EU integration process.

However, the tripartite Presidency could have done a better job, especially regarding relations with Serbia and Croatia. Why this was not the case, Izetbegovic said the other two presidency members, Serb member Mladen Ivanic, and Croat member Dragan Covic should respond to this question.

In general, he said the Presidency made over 3,000 decisions. The reason why the relations between the Bosniaks and Croats went south he noted is “Dragan Covic’s push for certain changes contrary to European norms and democratic standards.”

Asked to comment on Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic’s statements where she denied the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, the Presidency Chairman said that Bosniaks are used to such statements.

“However, we must build better relations with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic. The reason relations aren’t better is because Serbia is asking us to make certain changes, such as border changes, which are unacceptable to us,” Izetbegovic concluded.