Mennuti visits Nikšić with delegation: Implement the Law on Combating Corruption as soon as possible, form special departments

(Patria) - Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nermin Nikšić met today at the seat of the Government of the Federation of BiH in Sarajevo with the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America in our country, Deborah Mennuti.

The topic of the meeting was the implementation of the Law on Combating Corruption and Organized Crime in the Federation of BiH, adopted in 2014. On this occasion, Prime Minister Nikšić emphasized the firm commitment of the current Federal Government to finally make progress and begin full implementation of this law, as well as to establish special departments of the court and prosecution of the Federation of BiH as soon as possible.

"We are grateful for the support that the US Embassy provides to the Federation Government in all areas, including this project. Ambassador Michael Murphy and your administration truly show us a friendly attitude, and I am particularly interested in ensuring that our joint efforts on the implementation of the anti-corruption law yield results as soon as possible. In this term, we were faced with the fact that nothing has been done on the implementation of this law since 2014. It would be unacceptable to wait any longer. We in the FBiH Government are diligently working on finding a possible location for housing the special departments and we expect support from the federal judicial institutions in this regard," said Nikšić.

Mennuti also emphasized gratitude to the team working on behalf of the Prime Minister's Office and the Federation Government on resolving these issues.

"We are truly happy and proud to be able to work with you on the implementation of this law. We have resources that we have allocated for this purpose and will continue to allocate them. We are pleased and grateful for the partnership we have with your team. We are extremely satisfied with the dedication and efforts being invested, and we want concrete results and next steps to be achieved as soon as possible, so that the implementation of the anti-corruption law brings significant changes and progress in the area of the rule of law," said Mennuti.

Prime Minister Nikšić pointed out that the federal budget plans for the next year include funds for this project, and added that other items for its financing already exist.

"Our path towards the European Union, the legal security of our country, and the arrival of investors here imply an unequivocal readiness to fight against corruption and organized crime, and that finally those people who are steeped in crime and corruption are held accountable for it. Our only goal is for the special departments of the court and prosecution of the Federation to become functional and do their job as best they can and know how. The Federation Government is ready to do everything it can in this regard. We are also aware that the moment those departments start working, corruption and crime will not disappear immediately, but we know that it took time for USKOK in neighboring Croatia to profile itself and start delivering results. Once we establish these departments, we will have an address where professional holders of judicial functions lead proceedings in the fight against corruption and crime, as well as where they will be held accountable if that fight does not happen," emphasized Prime Minister Nikšić.

Also, on this occasion, commitment was expressed to achieving progress in the fight against cybercrime, and that work is being done on finding solutions that will significantly improve this area.

Incidentally, the meeting, in addition to the US Embassy official Mennuti, was also attended by representatives of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Frank Bradsher and Lejla Begtašević Radalija.