OSA (MIC) ON HOLD: Will Dodik and Tegeltija satisfy Čović?

(Patria) - The procedure for appointing the director and deputy director of the Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA) is currently stalled because the Joint Commission for Oversight of OSA's Work has not yet met. The commission received the proposal from the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Zoran Tegeltija, to appoint Osman Mehmedagić and Risto Zarić to these two positions. 

Members of HDZ BiH did not attend last week's session of the Joint Commission because they demanded that the appointment of the Chief Inspector of OSA also be made. Until their proposal is accepted, they will not participate in the work of the Joint Commission, which is why there is no quorum for work and decision-making. Although the opinion of the Joint Commission is not binding for the Council of Ministers of BiH, the Law on OSA stipulates that an opinion must be obtained. 

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Zoran Tegeltija, said on Tuesday that he would wait for the stance of the Joint Commission for some time, and then he would propose the appointment of the director and his deputy to the Council of Ministers. However, even if it reaches the Council of Ministers, ministers from HDZ will certainly not support it, without which the appointment will not be possible.

Although the final decision is made by the Council of Ministers, the appointment procedure requires obtaining opinions from the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Executive Board), the Presidency of BiH, and the Joint Commission for Oversight of OSA's Work, as stipulated by the Law on OSA. 

Regarding the appointment of the Chief Inspector, which HDZ BiH insists on being bundled with the director and deputy director, the Law on OSA stipulates that "the Chief Inspector is appointed and dismissed by the Council of Ministers upon the proposal of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH and his deputies." 

"The proposal for the appointment of the Chief Inspector is determined by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH based on consultations with his deputies, members of the Presidency of BiH, and the Joint Commission. The Chief Inspector is appointed for a term of 4 years, which can be renewed once," the Law states. 

The President of the Joint Commission, Nermin Nikšić, said that they expect a proposal from the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH for the Chief Inspector of OSA. 

"According to the Rules of Procedure, the Commission cannot work and make decisions without their participation. Therefore, there is no point in scheduling commission meetings until the reason why HDZ representatives refuse to participate is removed, or until they change their decision," Nikšić said.

Otherwise, the re-election of Osman Mehmedagić to the head of OSA is also burdened by the investigation of the BiH Prosecutor's Office regarding his alleged diploma from the American University in BiH, which he obtained in 2013 and submitted to the Joint Commission, declaring it a secret document. A criminal complaint was also filed against Mehmedagić in mid-September with the BiH Prosecutor's Office on suspicion of committing criminal offenses punishable by the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Criminal Code of Republika Srpska. The complaint was filed by Mirela Bubalo, advisor to the Federal Minister of Internal Affairs, Aljoša Čampare. The complaint also includes journalist Avdo Avdić and an unknown person from JP BH Pošta. 

"Personal data about me were collected illegally and published publicly - such as my address, my parents' names, my husband's personal details - which indicates that someone from OSA BiH illegally accessed the Citizen Identity Protection System (CIPS). In a false article about me filing criminal charges, my place of residence was published, and it even went a step further by embedding a map in the text showing a clear path to my front door! Due to the satanization orchestrated by Osman Mehmedagić, I live in fear and my life has turned into hell," Bubalo wrote on her Facebook profile after filing the criminal charges.