How the 'Troika' is changing the Statute of Sarajevo Airport to employ politically suitable candidates

(Patria) - The Government of Tuzla Canton (TK) today annulled the Public Advertisement for the nomination of candidates for the vacant positions of president and members of the Supervisory Board of the Public Enterprise "International Airport Tuzla" d.o.o., given that no candidates applied.

"The Government today appointed proxies who, on behalf of the founder, exercise the powers of the Assembly of the Public Enterprise 'International Airport Tuzla' d.o.o., and determined the proposal of candidates for the temporary appointment of the president and members of the Supervisory Board," it was announced after today's session of the TK Government.

Federal MP Jasmina Bišćević Tokić (SDA) says that this sounds dramatic, but that the situation in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina is drastically different in this regard, pointing to illegal changes to the Statute of JP "International Airport Sarajevo" d.o.o. Sarajevo.

And the mentioned Statute is being changed, says Bišćević Tokić, to "facilitate" the fulfillment of conditions for director positions. More precisely, the changes have already been adopted.

- Of course, no one is writing about it. The reason? Simple. The Government in Sarajevo is the 'Troika's', and the TK Government is SDA and DF, therefore in one case it is allowed to raise dust, and in the other, silence is kept - points out Bišćević Tokić in a statement to the Patria News Agency (NAP).

She asked the Supervisory Board of Sarajevo Airport a parliamentary question - has the Statute been changed? They answered her that no letter had reached them.

- Just a few days later, lo and behold, the same Supervisory Board adopts amendments. And exactly in a way that suits the current management - says Bišćević Tokić.

She gave an example that for the position of Director of the Company, it was previously required to have at least five years of experience in management positions in civil aviation.

- Now they have only kept "five years in management positions", and civil aviation, of course, has been deleted. According to that logic, a candidate can come from a butcher shop, it's completely irrelevant - emphasizes Bišćević Tokić.

For the executive director for traffic and air traffic services, our interlocutor adds, they are also deleting the requirement for experience in the reception and dispatch of aircraft, passengers and cargo, an instructor's license, and even a medium-level knowledge of the English language.

The same applies, she states, to the executive director for airport development. It seems that a modern airport is developing without aviation knowledge, but with "political qualifications".

She found it particularly interesting that no one informed the public that one executive director resigned in July.

- Even more interesting, an MP who adopts the KS budget simultaneously represents the Airport in cooperation with the Tourist Board, while the director is her party colleague. Conflict of interest? Not at all, just another day in the "transparent" management of the 'Troika'.

And in the end, the question remains: what is worse - not applying for the Supervisory Board competition or changing the conditions to employ politically suitable candidates? Unfortunately, the 'Troika' has already given us the answer - says Bišćević Tokić in a statement to NAP.

(D.K.)