State Ministries Assigned Tasks: Syrian Refugees in BiH to be Housed in Barracks

The Council of Ministers of BiH was informed about the Report from the meeting of the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH with representatives of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, the Intelligence-Security Agency, the State Investigation and Protection Agency, the Border Police, the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies, the Indirect Taxation Authority, and the interior ministries of the entities, held on September 10 this year, concerning the security aspects of a possible refugee crisis and the arrival of refugees in the territory of BiH, reports the Patria News Agency.

The Ministry of Security is tasked with immediately preparing an act to add the jurisdiction of the main operational staff for migration issues to the Coordination Board for Migration Issues. When the Coordination Board convenes in its capacity as staff, it will include the heads of staff from the entity level. The jurisdiction, obligations, and responsibilities of the staff will be regulated by a special act adopted by the Council of Ministers of BiH upon the proposal of the Minister of Security.

The Ministry of Security, i.e., the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, is tasked with urgently analyzing and, if necessary, proposing to the Council of Ministers for adoption, improvements to regulations and procedures for receiving refugees, with the aim of timely technical and administrative responsibility of the competent services and institutions for adequate registration of refugees.

The Ministry of Defense of BiH is tasked with, based on a request that will be immediately sent by the Ministry of Security of BiH, which must include the possible route of refugee movement towards BiH, as well as the expected number and duration of stay in BiH, carrying out an urgent identification of non-perspective military property objects that can be put into temporary use for the reception and accommodation of refugees. The main operational staff at the BiH level, in cooperation with the entity staffs, will define and implement measures for the temporary takeover of facilities – barracks for refugee accommodation.

The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH is tasked with, in cooperation with international humanitarian organizations, carrying out all necessary preparations and reporting to the Council of Ministers of BiH on current and needed capacities in terms of accommodation, food, and care for migrants, and proposing solutions for the implementation of this obligation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH will monitor and regularly report to the Council of Ministers of BiH on the EU's positions regarding the migrant crisis and the situation in the Western Balkan countries with a focus on BiH, in relation to possible tasks, expectations, or plans, it was announced from the Council of Ministers of BiH.