RADONČIĆ'S DEPARTURE FROM COORDINATION BODY: EXPERTS CAN JOIN, BUT WITHOUT VOTING RIGHTS

(Patria) - The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Security, adopted the Decision on declaring a state of natural or other disaster in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the danger of a possible outbreak of an infectious disease caused by the coronavirus (Covid - 19) on March 17.

Everything was done to reduce the risk of accelerated spread of infection in BiH and to enable the engagement of additional resources to respond to this public health threat.
The Council of Ministers then activated the work of the Coordination Body for the Protection and Rescue of People and Material Goods from Natural and Other Disasters in BiH, which will carry out its activities in accordance with Article 17 of the Framework Law for the Protection and Rescue of People and Material Goods from Natural and Other Disasters in BiH.

Fahrudin Radončić, Minister of Security, was appointed Chairman of the Coordination Body for the Protection and Rescue of BiH, and Aleksandar Mandić, Head of the Operational-Communication Center of BiH - 112 of the Ministry of Security of BiH, was appointed Deputy Chairman.

However, yesterday Radončić resigned from the chairmanship of the Coordination Body, stating that the position should be left to managers who know what to do, while accountants, bookkeepers, and humanitarian operatives handle the operational aspects.

But, can someone like that legally head the Coordination Body?

According to the Framework Law on the Protection and Rescue of People and Material Goods from Natural or Other Disasters in BiH, the Coordination Body of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Protection and Rescue consists of nine representatives of the Council of Ministers, five representatives each from the Government of Republika Srpska and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and two representatives from the Government of Brčko District of BiH.

Because, according to the law, the Coordination Body, as needed, invites other institutions, bodies, agencies, organizations, and experts on specific issues of interest for protection and rescue in Bosnia and Herzegovina or abroad to participate in its work without voting rights.

How can someone without voting rights chair this body? The Law also clearly stipulates that all expert and administrative tasks for the needs of the Coordination Body are performed by the Ministry of Security of BiH.