Parliament: Debate on Discrimination against Bosniaks in BiH Institutions, Krišto Not Present

(Patria) - The urgent session requested by five representatives of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly will be held today, instead of July 30, said the Speaker of the House Denis Zvizdić at today's urgent session.

The Chair of the SNSD Club Sanja Vulić said that the SNSD Club cannot attend the session tomorrow due to prior commitments, but can today.

Zvizdić confirmed that after the conclusion of one urgent session, another urgent session will be held today.

The Chair of the Council of Ministers of BiH Borjana Krišto is not attending the session of this house and has justified her absence.

Representatives will discuss ethnic representation in BiH institutions in accordance with the BiH Constitution and applicable laws, as well as amendments to the SIPA Law.

The Director of the BiH Civil Service Agency Anita Markić is also not attending the session.

Representative Jasmin Emrić proposed several conclusions obliging BiH institutions to proportional representation, as well as a three-month moratorium on hiring and appointments by the Council of Ministers of BiH and BiH institutions to create conditions for proportional representation of employees.

Representative Aida Baručija also proposed several conclusions on this topic.

Representative Šemsudin Mehmedović said that for two years he has been warning about the violation of legal obligations for proportional representation, especially regarding senior officials.

"I particularly warn about the appointments made by the Council of Ministers of BiH. These appointments show systemic discrimination against Bosniaks. Bosniaks received only 20 percent of positions. It is indisputable that Bosniaks are grossly discriminated against. Despite such data, we have constant propaganda from HDZ leaders about the alleged endangerment of Croats. They received significantly more positions than they are entitled to under the Constitution. SNSD leaders persistently repeat the thesis of unitarization, what unitarization are we talking about when Serbs received 12 out of 28 positions. Bosniaks will pay VAT, fill the budget, and be discriminated against. The only unitary thing in BiH is that one party and one people manage all processes," said Mehmedović.

He cited data that more than 50 percent of employees in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations are Serbs.

"As for HDZ officials, Josip Merdžo stands out, in Mostar two Bosniaks are employed. This is apartheid against Bosniaks," Mehmedović stated.

He proposed two conclusions, including the obligation to submit the ethnic affiliation of employees every three months, and that members of the Commissions for pre-employment be selected by an automatic CMS system.