Ministry of Defence of BiH Allocated Nearly 40,000 KM for Christmas Concerts and Imam Training in Two Years

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Ministry of Defence of BiH spent nearly forty thousand marks on various service contracts from the end of 2015 to the end of 2017.

This is the answer to a parliamentary question posed by state MP Saša Magazinović of the SDP. He asked the Minister of Defence, Marina Pendeš /HDZ BiH/, how many people were employed during her term based on service contracts, for what jobs, and what was the justification for such arrangements in each individual case.

The Ministry provided a table of individuals and the reasons for their engagement, which shows that the majority of external collaborators were hired for religious ceremonies and anniversaries of important dates for the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry states that in just over two years, they spent nearly 40,000 KM on cultural and entertainment programs, such as: Christmas concerts, organization of cultural and entertainment programs for the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, script and program development for the realization of Mevlud – the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for members of the BiH Armed Forces, training of military imams as a form of professional preparation for reciting mukabela during Ramadan, and similar activities.

58 individuals were engaged for these religious programs.

Magazinović stated in an interview with the Patria news agency that he would have been happier if the answer to his question had revealed that the Ministry of Defence had engaged external collaborators for the additional training of employees in the Ministry and Armed Forces in any area where a need was identified.

- I understand the need to mark religious holidays and I am not against it, but sometimes I get the feeling that in some ministries, celebrations and marking of significant dates are approached more seriously than regular activities - Magazinović stated.

- Information will soon be requested in Parliament regarding the appointment of command staff whose mandates have expired, or whether, after the tragic murder of a soldier in a terrorist act, it has become a practice to pay additional insurance for employees in the Armed Forces. I want to believe that we will be satisfied with the answers, but at the same time, I doubt it - Magazinović told NAP.

In addition to paying for religious events and lectures, the Ministry allocated 3,000 KM for one person in one instance, for organizing a cultural and entertainment program to mark December 1st – the Day of the BiH Armed Forces.

The Ministry paid hosts of cultural and entertainment programs between 300 and 500 KM in the past two years.

In addition to the 58 service contracts, 18 employees have been hired through a competition in the Ministry of Defence of BiH during Minister Pendeš's term so far.