Forto: US interest in gas interconnection exists, but no external pressure

However, he emphasized that the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina align with the objectives outlined by the U.S., stressing that there has been no external pressure and that he personally acts solely in the best interest of the country.

During the hearing, committee member Zlatan Begić inquired whether Forto had faced any pressure during negotiations on the interconnection with coalition partners. In response, Forto clarified that energy issues do not fall under the jurisdiction of his ministry but are instead managed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH.

When asked whether he was acquainted with Amir Kabiri, Forto acknowledged having met him once, during which Kabiri expressed his interest in the interconnection project. However, regarding Kabiri’s acquisition of the terminal in Dretelj, Forto stated that he was not informed about it.

Forto reaffirmed his support for the Southern Gas Interconnection project, highlighting its importance in diversifying Bosnia and Herzegovina’s gas supply and reducing reliance on a single supplier.

Committee member Safet Kešo questioned why Kabiri had approached Forto specifically, given that Forto himself maintains that his ministry has no direct responsibility for the interconnection.

In response to Kešo’s inquiry about whether the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH has a specialist for pipeline transport, Forto confirmed that such a position exists due to an outdated systematization. However, he clarified that the official does not handle pipeline-related matters, as they fall outside the ministry’s jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Committee member Nermin Mandra expressed disappointment with Forto’s assertion that the Ministry of Communications and Transport has no jurisdiction over the transportation of energy resources.