BiH Transport Minister says ministers from Republika Srpska rejected UK air services deal

Forto said the session’s agenda was “limited and unambitious” and that his proposal to establish a Committee for Facilitating International and Inter-Entity Road Transport was rejected by RS representatives.

“I had launched this initiative even before meeting with transport companies. My idea was to make their requests more efficient by channelling them through one body, chaired by myself and with entity ministers as deputies. But this was not adopted. This sector is one of the healthiest in Bosnia’s economy, competitive despite tough market conditions. Still, the strange and absurd politics from Banja Luka continue,” Forto told reporters.

He voiced support for the country’s long-struggling transport companies, but stressed that problems accumulated over 20 years cannot be solved overnight.

“I tried to consolidate all their demands in one place, but others disagreed. Their criticisms are legitimate—some issues fall under other institutions, others in Brussels,” he said, adding that new regulations are now in their final phase and that he remains open to dialogue with transporters.

“Unfortunately, the same destructive politics from Banja Luka already sank a bilateral air services agreement with the United Kingdom. A budget is needed for everyone—for all institutions and all citizens. I can only hope that a little common sense will prevail among those who rarely show it,” Forto said.

He ended by accusing the ruling RS party, SNSD, of “cowardice” in the state parliament’s upper chamber:

“In the House of Peoples, SNSD ran away cowardly. They would stay for certain agenda items, but when it came to the budget, they would vote against. I did not discuss this with the RS opposition,” Forto concluded.