Osmanović sends protest letter to Serbian minister, expects reaction from OHR as well

(Patria) - Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Adil Osmanović will send an official reaction, a protest letter to the Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia because the latter signed an agreement with the relevant minister of Republika Srpska, which cannot be signed without the consent of the state level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was announced from the office of the Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH.

Regarding the information in the media about the signing of the Agreement on Joint Activities of Republika Srpska and Serbia in the field of quality assurance and recognition of accreditation in higher education, signed by the Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia and the Minister for Scientific-Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina was not consulted in any way about the content of the aforementioned agreement, nor is it aware of it, nor of the procedure for its conclusion.

After obtaining the text of the aforementioned agreement and reviewing its content, in my capacity as Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I will send an official reaction, i.e., a protest letter to the Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia,” stated the Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH.

He reminds that according to Article III, paragraph 1, of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, competence in the field of foreign policy lies with the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that any agreement between any of the entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and states and international organizations requires the prior consent of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The establishment of special parallel relations between entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighboring countries must be in accordance with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Minister of Civil Affairs also notes.

- I also remind that according to the Framework Law on Higher Education, only higher education institutions registered in the State Register of Accredited Higher Education Institutions, maintained by the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are considered accredited. Therefore, accreditation of higher education institutions and study programs obtained from any accreditation body outside Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot replace the obligations prescribed by law and valid procedures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, nor can it question the competencies and substitute the role of the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this regard - stated Minister Osmanović.

In the spirit of cooperation and good neighborly relations, the Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH invited the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia to respect the sovereignty and integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of higher education and the competencies of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In this regard, as he stated, he also expects a reaction from international institutions and organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily the Office of the High Representative and the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Any action contrary to the Constitution and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as interference by any institution of a neighboring country in the internal affairs and relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, does not lead to improved cooperation and good neighborly relations, nor to the improvement of the quality of education, he also noted.

The Minister calls on the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as an independent administrative organization and competent institutions in the field of education, to work together without delay to resolve the problem that has resulted in a standstill in the accreditation process of the University of Banja Luka and the University of East Sarajevo.

Problems should be resolved to the satisfaction and benefit of students and academic staff, and with the aim of improving the quality of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Osmanović stated in the announcement.