NIP's protégé Ramo Isak 'settled' two children, waiting for the third to reach adulthood

By: Amra Vrabac

When on April 28, on the day the imposed government of Nermin Nikšić was to be confirmed, he defended Ramo Isak from journalists, NIP leader Elmedin Konaković publicly stated that he personally stood behind Isak.

In that passionate address, as he had only slept a few hours, he told the journalists, "the fact that you are shaking your heads is your stance" while they listened to the outpouring of emotions about Ramo Isak.

"In the process of establishing government at all levels, we are responsible for every candidate we propose, morally, materially, with our honor, our credibility. I must say that at some higher levels – we swallowed some frogs. I didn't know we could do that, that we as people would be ready for that kind of compromise. Today, I am glad we did it.

We believe that Ramo Isak can handle part of the job, despite all the flaws he is accused of, and I agree that they are not insignificant and should not be ignored. It is impossible to choose the ideal, but it is acceptable. What do our voters say? Let me show you the messages – 'get rid of these thieves however you can,' they beg and plead with us, and say 'make whatever compromises you know how, we've had enough of those because of whom our children are at the German embassy.'"

If Ramo Isak is guilty and does a bad job, we are responsible, but if he is not, say so. We cannot create a filter to satisfy everyone, but we can create a system where we are responsible so that no one will falter. I take responsibility for appointing Ramo Isak and I am giving him the space to see if he can do the job; for every stain, every mistake, every tender he makes, I will stand before you and say what I have to say then," Konaković said at the time.

It is the fifth month of the imposed FBiH Government, and Isak has already accumulated negative points. The Federal Police Administration has no parliamentary oversight, no director, no deputy director; the FUP helicopter has become a regular means of transport for Isak, and sometimes for his son, federal MP Arnel Isak, due to 'security assessments'.

At today's session of the FBiH Government, the second minister's son, Rusmir Isak, was appointed director of the Zenica Closed-Type Penitentiary for a period of four years. His biography states that he was the director of the security agency ‘CONDOR’ Ltd. Zenica, which is owned by the Isak family. He is knowledgeable in IT and IT communications, actively involved in sports, and holds a II dan black belt in martial arts. And instead of being the best 'physical protection' for his brother Arnel, the Isak family had another plan.

His father Ramo abstained from voting today, but the proposal passed without any problems. This also recalled the appointment of Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić's brother in a previous convocation as one of the executive directors at JP Autoceste FBiH. On July 27, 2011, Nikšić went to the restroom at the time of the vote, thus missing the vote on his brother. We don't know where Isak was when Nermin Nikšić's Government voted for the new director of KPZ Zenica, nor do we know where Konaković is today, who should come forward to the public and explain how it is possible that almost the entire Isak family is on the FBiH Budget.

All those quips about NIP's 'nepotism' are now visible in practice. Ramo Isak has another son. Since he is not of legal age, his appointment will wait a little. But by the end of the mandate of the imposed government, it is not excluded that he will take some position.

When they needed votes on April 28, Konaković, Nikšić, and Forto did not ask about the cost. However, the bills were quickly presented. Both from other partners and from within their own ranks.

And if they think the Isak family will stop at this, they are mistaken. It will be interesting to follow the tenders and deals of Isak's security agency and with which public companies it works or will work.

The fight against nepotism and corruption has begun within their own ranks. Instead of preventing it, the 'trojka' cadres are very successfully showing how to monetize a hand or two in the Government and Parliament.

In four months, Konaković and his partners have incurred the wrath of citizens, as well as their own voters. Because no one is so stupid or blind as not to see the same pattern of behavior as previous policies. The 'trojka' policy has brought nothing new or different. Compromised cadres, deniers of war crimes and defenders of war criminals, convicted ministers, are just part of what the 'trojka' calls 'different from SDA'.

Foreign partners who helped them come to power have already warned them about some of the mistakes. If they continue like this, the price of further support could become increasingly higher. And we have seen some of that in the letter sent by the ambassadors of the USA and the EU.