No agreement yet on housing migrants in Agrokomerc

VELIKA KLADUŠA, (Patria) – Although the Agrokomerc premises in Velika Kladuša are mentioned as the most likely center for housing migrants who have entered Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent weeks, an agreement between the company and state authorities has not yet been reached.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Minister of Security, Dragan Mektić, stated on Monday that more than seven thousand illegal migrants have been registered in BiH, who do not have adequate accommodation. A smaller portion of migrants are housed in the Salakovac refugee center near Mostar, while the majority are in parks, mainly in Sarajevo, Velika Kladuša, and Bihać.

“The FBiH Government has informed us in writing that they have allocated the Ušivak barracks in Hadžići and the Agrokomerc premises in Velika Kladuša. Electricity and sewage connections are being arranged… In Agrokomerc, we have a donation from Austria of about 50 specialized tents, air conditioning, and heating. Along with additional containers and sanitary facilities that we will build in Velika Kladuša,” Mektić said.

Three days later, the European Commission confirmed that they do not wish to finance the adaptation of Agrokomerc's facilities for the needs of migrants, as they are too close to the European Union border.

“According to them, this would somehow attract migrants to come to such a center in order to proceed further towards the EU,” Mektić said, accusing BiH of suffering the consequences of the migrant crisis. He stated that he does not agree that a refugee camp in Velika Kladuša would be a problem because it is close to the EU borders, reminding that a similar center exists in Šid, Serbia, which is also right on the border with Croatia.

“We are not giving up on Agrokomerc, because it is a quality solution for us to manage the problem and keep it under control. They will not finance it, and I told them that we will then undertake this ourselves. This week, we will start arranging the premises in Agrokomerc,” Mektić said.

He announced that during the weekend, a sufficient number of tents, donated to the Ministry and equipped with air conditioning and heating, will be sent to Velika Kladuša, after which the accommodation of migrants will begin. He also said that BiH will feed the migrants as much as it can.

However, by the weekend, no agreement was reached with the Agrokomerc management. The company is requesting that the Ministry of Security or another state body provide funds for current expenses, such as waste disposal, electricity, and water, so that such costs do not fall on Agrokomerc, the Patria agency writes.