Parliamentarians Demand Prevention of Corruption and Misuse of Aid Funds

MP in the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, Besima Borić (SDP), told the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP) that she understands foreign investors and donors, because no one wants to enter a situation that has any hint of scandal, and capital is timid.

She commented on the information that the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be able to receive a single mark from foreign financial organizations for economic recovery after the catastrophic floods if individuals from state structures suspected of crime and corruption are involved in the implementation of these projects.

She also emphasized that many things are visible in the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina, citing the example of the scandal in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of FBiH, headed by Ivanković Lijanović, where the regularity of subsidy allocation is questioned, as well as audit reports that have revealed irregularities.

- Such stories certainly affect the decisions of people who want to help or invest here - says Borić.

The key mechanisms that should be available to the FBiH Government, through which companies can be helped, are under the control of Jerko Ivanković Lijanović or are outside the power that Nermin Nikšić's government has no control over!

According to initial estimates, tens of thousands of jobs were lost in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the floods, and the most funds will be needed to help companies that were destroyed or severely damaged.

Borić states that the Federal Government has the responsibility to address such matters and that there have been attempts, but that there are different conflicting interests.

- It is not simple, confusion has arisen in which partial interests prevail, and therefore it is difficult for some things to move forward, which then harms everyone. It is not easy to find a way out of such a situation, although I believe that Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić and his associates will manage to find a solution so that these funds can be distributed - Borić believes.

On the other hand, MP in the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, Ismet Osmanović (SDA), believes that the money and donations that arrive should be distributed according to a special law.

- We proposed the adoption of a special law that would regulate the establishment, functioning, and distribution of funds, both from abroad and from within, that are sent to the FBiH. This would be possible by having this Fund have its own management structure, its own management, and people would be responsible for accepting this money and other things transparently and for distributing and spending the money in the best way for the needs of those who suffered in the floods - Osmanović told NAP.

He believes that this is the only way to remove the stigma from the federal authorities and to accept and distribute aid in an organized manner.

- I understand some donors who have certain question marks. However, we must not give up our efforts to prove that we can be organized, transparent, and honest in spending donations. The only way is to regulate it in this way, I am not for the option of seeking alternative solutions because by doing so we would accept and agree to the option that we are not capable of doing so. We must insist on raising the level of awareness of the people who decide on such matters, as well as the level of government. Any other way, in my opinion, would be wrong - Osmanović emphasized.