Foundation OdRaz is shutting down, will Vinko Jakić be prosecuted

The Federal Government considered the business report of the Foundation for Sustainable Development (OdRaz) for 2015, headed by the compromised Vinko Jakić. Audit and financial reports for last year were also considered, as well as information on the advantages and disadvantages of implementing development projects in FBiH through OdRaz compared to federal ministries, writes the BiH news agency Patria.

After consideration, the Government of FBiH, as the founder of OdRaz, accepted the proposal of the Foundation's Management Board, composed of seven federal ministers, and made a Decision to reassign the Foundation's employees with new contracts linked to federal ministries, and to shut down the Foundation.

The Federal Ministries of Justice and Finance are tasked with preparing all necessary acts for the implementation of today's decision.

The Foundation for Sustainable Development (OdRaz) was an important foundation of the Government of the Federation of BiH for the implementation of development and other programs and projects in the FBiH area, since 2001. Programs implemented by OdRaz throughout FBiH were financed by loans and grants from international institutions (World Bank, IBRD, EU), as well as from domestic funds (budget funds of the Federation of BiH, cantons, and municipalities).

The World Bank, in the period from 2001 to 2013, assessed OdRaz as one of the most successful foundations of this type in Southeast Europe. The Foundation annually managed projects worth over one hundred million KM in total.

OdRaz's credibility was seriously jeopardized when Jakić was appointed director, and the World Bank withdrew funds for projects. Jakić was dismissed in 2014, but the Management Board secretly reappointed him to this position, allegedly justifying it with a court ruling.

Members of the OdRaz Management Board, whom citizens pay an additional 800 KM each month, in addition to their regular ministerial salary, include Minister of Finance Jelka Milićević (HDZ BiH), Minister of Labor and Social Policy Vesko Drljača (SBB), Minister of Displaced Persons and Refugees Edin Ramić (SDA), Minister of Culture and Sports Zora Dujmović (HDZ BiH), Minister of Physical Planning Josip Martić (HDZ BiH), Minister of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Šemsudin Dedić (SDA), Minister of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Amir Zukić (SDA).

Incidentally, according to the distribution of portfolios and institutions, the OdRaz foundation belonged to SBB, which distanced itself from Jakić, writes NAP.