Mektić: I did not mention any names in "spectacular arrests", and affairs must be uncovered

Bosnia and Herzegovina Security Minister Dragan Mektić was asked a question at the session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH by MP Mirsad Đonlagić (SBB) about his statements made as early as August 26, 2015, when he said from the podium, "I promise from this place, there will be spectacular arrests, there will be uncovering of major affairs, and there will be arrests, I promise you," reports the Patria News Agency.

- Who did you have in mind in all your precise statements, and does your spectacular action also mean masked special forces raiding the editorial office of a daily newspaper – Đonlagić asked.

Mektić, in response to this question, stated that his political party or political alliance from which he comes, based on the results, made and continues to make promises during the election campaign that if we are part of the government, one of the basic and main priorities will be the fight against organized crime, corruption, etc.

- Based on such a promise, we gained a certain value in the elections, entered the government, and are part of the government, and we want to fulfill our political promise. There can be no fight against crime and corruption without arrests, prosecution, and conclusion of criminal proceedings with some verdicts. My entire commitment, to which I have dedicated myself, is to create such an environment or to create an environment in which, together with the Prosecutor's Office in daily communication, we will create an environment for arrests to occur – Mektić emphasized.

He also said that he has not performed any operational authorizations, nor is he interested in it.

- I will continue to work on uncovering all affairs that are more or less known to all citizens in BiH, about which the media have talked for hours, presented a series of material evidence, and what they have presented should be turned into proceedings, and then a decision should be made whether there is a criminal offense or not. I maintain the position that there must be arrests and that they will happen. We have created the environment for such affairs to be uncovered, and I do not see what the problem is, and who does not want this, and to whom it is not convenient. I have never prejudged any arrest, I have never mentioned any name, and the Prosecutor's Office will reach them based on documented deeds – Mektić stated.

Damir Arnaut, an SBB MP, replied to Mektić, saying that he fears the minister himself might "become the strongest weapon in the hands of politicians," as the minister once said about members of the Independent Board.

Mektić stressed that he has never interfered in operational responsibilities and that there will be more arrests because affairs must be uncovered.

- Please, was there any interference from Mr. Fahrudin Radončić in the operational work of the police when in 2014 he said that he would not send the police against the people. Please, be politically correct – Mektić added.