Minister Živko: In the coming year, the MUP of USK will procure specialized vehicles!

Interview by: Dean Džebić

Dynamic changes in the security environment in the world, the region, and BiH itself require a dynamic and prompt response. The terrorist attack in Kosovo, as well as the increasingly topical migrant crisis, whose summer waves are already being announced, necessitate more significant technical and technological equipping of police agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In this regard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Una-Sana Canton is under numerous pressures, which it is successfully handling. We discussed the material and technical capacities of the MUP of USK and the challenges of the migrant crisis with Božidar Živko, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Una-Sana Canton.

How do you assess the security situation in USK? What do the security assessments about the new migrant wave announced by experts indicate, and to what extent is the MUP of USK capable of independently, in cooperation with other police agencies, dealing with this security challenge?

- The security situation in the USK area is "satisfactory," and a possible assessment is also "good" considering all the security challenges of the environment, as well as the rest of the world. With the current capacities of the USK police and in cooperation with other security agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I believe we can respond to all the security challenges ahead of us, even in the event of an increase in the number of people on the move in our canton.

In the Sarajevo and Tuzla Cantons, the ministries of internal affairs have successfully completed the procurement of armored vehicles, a new contingent of passenger vehicles for police use, etc. What is the operational budget of the MUP of USK, and can it, as such, keep up with the demands of technical and technological equipping? Does the MUP of USK need new off-road vehicles, and to what extent is there interest from higher levels of government in participating in procurement programs?

- The budget of the MUP of USK is around 54 million convertible marks, and as such, it meets the minimum needs for the smooth functioning of the ministry as a whole, as well as the USK police. Within these funds, there will be room for material and technical equipping of the police, but certainly only with a professional and serious approach to spending, i.e., short-term and long-term procurement planning, especially when we talk about capital investments in the USK police.

What is the current number of migrants staying in the Lipa camp, and what are the camp's capacities? Were narcotics or weapons found during the raids in the camp? Do citizens have reason to worry?

- Currently, around 1200 migrants are staying in the Lipa Camp, while the camp's capacity is 1500 people. During the last raid, the police did not find anything that would be of interest from a police work perspective. Our citizens have no reason to worry, except for those involved in illegal activities of human smuggling or other criminal activities related to the stay of migrants in our area.

Will the increased influx of migrants, in accordance with the powers of the MUP of USK, again affect changes in passenger traffic in terms of controlling buses and vehicles entering the Una-Sana Canton?

- If the security situation deteriorates in any aspect, or if the security of our citizens is threatened, the USK police reserve the right to take all necessary measures and actions in accordance with their legal powers, including measures for increased controls of all traffic participants.

In the past period, the public was informed about the poor condition and insufficient number of motor vehicles of the MUP of USK. Are new passenger and off-road vehicles planned for procurement in the near future, and what projects are involved?

- In the coming year, the USK police plan to procure a certain number of specialized police vehicles with special equipment, for which funds will be secured from the USK budget.

How do you assess the statements of certain politicians from the Republic of Croatia, specifically members of parliament, who call for the formation of self-defense associations that would, as they state, retaliate even with fire against BiH? To what extent does such rhetoric hinder and complicate the work of police agencies, as well as cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina?

- Unfortunately, in the public space, we can often hear various statements from individuals that are sometimes made out of ignorance, and sometimes out of other motives, attract public attention, and very often do not reflect the real situation on the ground. Such statements can also be viewed in the context of internal, daily political events in neighboring countries or upcoming election campaigns and the collection of points or sympathy from a part of the public. I believe that such statements by individuals cannot significantly harm relations between BiH and RH or complicate the work of police agencies, because for us, the opinions and positions of the official bodies of our neighbors are primarily relevant.

I am sure that good neighborly cooperation will continue in the future, all with the aim of ensuring better security for both our citizens and the citizens of the neighboring country.