Nikšić: HDZ BiH seeks appointment of chief inspector in OSA

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Chairman of the Joint Commission for Oversight of the work of OSA Nermin Nikšić stated that their colleagues from HDZ BiH informed them that they did not attend today's session due to the fact that the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH did not send the proposal for the appointment of the chief inspector, who is appointed from among the Croatian people, into the procedure.

"We received an official letter from the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH in which he proposes Osman Mehmedagić for director and Risto Zarić for deputy director, without a proposal for the chief inspector," Nikšić stated.

When asked if these appointments should go as a package, Nikšić said that the Law is not very precise and stipulates that after the appointment of the director and deputy director, the chief inspector should be appointed within a month.

Nikšić stated that recently there have been talks in the public and media about the renewed abuse of OSA for political purposes or settling scores with political opponents of the ruling parties or opposition parties.

"I myself have been subjected to false accusations, I wish we had the opportunity to talk about it. We didn't work, so we didn't talk. I don't want to fall into a trap where one illegality is corrected by another; as far as I'm concerned, I'm not the one to assess the validity of Mr. Mehmedagić's diploma. There are bodies that should study and state that. My position is known when it comes to that appointment, but I wanted to warn, and today I warned about it at our informal meeting. Several times we have had a story that they present to us as paranoia, and then it turns out to be true. When we said that SDA and Bakir Izetbegović handed over the House of Peoples to SNSD and HDZ, then the man mockingly said that it doesn't matter if it's three or four, only to recently say that they are not the ones who handed it over at all. The Law on OSA clearly states that the reason for the dismissal of the director and deputy director is if criminal proceedings are initiated against them for abuse of office, disclosure of official secrets, and some other offenses. My question is very open. If the Council of Ministers appoints Mr. Mehmedagić, and there is talk that certain proceedings have been initiated and criminal charges have been filed, if the criminal charges are confirmed and proceedings are opened, that is a reason for his dismissal, will Bakir Izetbegović and SDA hand over OSA to SNSD and Milorad Dodik because of that?", Nikšić stated, adding that they should answer that question and not accuse him of undermining Bosniak cadres in the interest of the Russian lobby, SNSD, HDZ, or whoever else.