OHR: Dismissal of Hamdija Fejzić sends the wrong signal

(Patria) - "For the Bosnian-Herzegovinian society, and especially for places like Srebrenica, it is extremely important to have inclusivity in terms of participation in public and political life in order to ensure the best possible representation of the interests of all citizens", stated the Office of the High Representative (OHR) to Fena regarding the recent dismissal of the Deputy Mayor of Srebrenica Municipality, Hamdija Fejzić.

In this regard, the OHR reminds that, according to the constitutional and legal framework of the RS entity, local self-government units ensure the proportional representation of constituent peoples and Others in the bodies of local self-government units, including the position of deputy mayor.

“The dismissal of Hamdija Fejzić from the position of Deputy Mayor of Srebrenica Municipality sends the wrong signal, especially considering that after his dismissal, the Assembly elected a person of the same nationality as the mayor to the position of deputy mayor, thereby harming mutual trust and understanding within the municipality”, the OHR states.

Therefore, they call on the Municipal Assembly of Srebrenica to respect its constitutional and legal obligations in this context.

At a thematic session of the Municipal Assembly of Srebrenica held seven days ago, the recall and dismissal of the Deputy Mayor of Srebrenica Municipality, Hamdija Fejzić, was voted on. 12 Serb councilors voted for the dismissal, while Bosniak councilors did not vote, so the decision to dismiss the deputy mayor was made on a uninominal basis.

Momčilo Cvjetinović, president of the SDS Srebrenica Municipal Board, was appointed to Fejzić's position.

The session of the Municipal Assembly was held at the proposal of Mayor Mladen Grujičić.