US Embassy Criticizes Past and Present FBiH Governments and Rama Isak Over Conflict of Interest: Condor Should Withdraw

The United States Embassy has sharply reacted to the scandalous decision by Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine to award a lucrative 14 million KM contract to a consortium of companies, including the security agency Condor, owned by the family of the Federal Minister of Internal Affairs, Rama Isak.

Politicki.ba obtained the Embassy's reaction, in which they criticize the Federal Government.

"When the spouse of a minister in the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina receives a lucrative contract from a state-owned company, it raises serious questions about conflict of interest," reads the response from the US Embassy's Office of Public Affairs to Politicki.ba's inquiry.

The existing Law on Conflict of Interest in Public Authorities in FBiH clearly prohibits companies run by public officials or their close relatives, including spouses, from receiving amounts exceeding 5,000 KM annually from any level of government, the response further states.

"However, the application of the law is crucial. Unfortunately, amendments to the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest at the state level from 2013 have made it impossible to apply the law in the Federation. Additionally, the FBiH Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest lacks provisions for establishing an independent institutional body responsible for deciding when conduct qualifies as a conflict of interest.

For over a decade, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has failed to amend the Law to fulfill its purpose of preventing conflicts of interest and implementing prescribed measures. This failure is equally the responsibility of the previous FBiH Government, including the current opposition, as well as the current FBiH Government.

It is unprecedented that the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, both past and present, has intentionally refused or otherwise failed to amend or enact an effective and enforceable law on the prevention of conflict of interest, thereby allowing conflicts of interest to proceed unimpeded," the Embassy's response to Politicki.ba's questions states.

It is also emphasized that "the authorities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina should, without delay, take steps to adopt the FBiH Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in accordance with international standards that prevent situations similar to the current one and establish mechanisms for holding those involved in corruption accountable".

"If this is not done, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina are left without the opportunity to compete on fair terms, corruption is legitimized, and residents of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are denied fair public services.

Regarding the participation of the company Condor in the security contract awarded by Elektroprivreda BiH, it would be ethical and correct for this company to withdraw," reads the response from the US Embassy's Office of Public Affairs to Politicki.ba's questions.