Lawmakers rejected discussion on New Year's Eve celebration in front of the BiH PA: Extraordinary costs for BiH Budget to follow

Damir Bećirović, DF MP in the House of Representatives of the BiH PA, requested today that an item be placed on the agenda of the session to discuss everything about the organization of the public New Year's Eve celebration in front of the BiH PA building. This proposal did not pass, as there was no entity majority from FBiH during the vote, writes Patria.

- I am interested in the financial aspect for the BiH budget, in addition to security, because we are all aware that we need to deploy a certain number of officials from the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies. According to my estimate, 200 police officers will be engaged, so these are extraordinary costs that will be covered from the BiH Budget. As an attachment to this agenda item of mine is the Decision of the City of Sarajevo, which states that the organizer should bear the costs of securing nearby facilities. As we heard at the extended Collegium, this is not the case, even though a contract has been signed between the BiH PA, the Secretariat, and the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies on the secondment of a certain number of police forces. When it comes to such a large number of visitors, other agencies from the BiH security apparatus must definitely be involved, so this will incur certain costs from the BiH Budget that are not listed or planned – said Bećirović.

Due to all of this, it is necessary to obtain these details, Bećirović stated, and explained that this should not be understood as any attack on Sarajevo.

- I am interested in how budget funds are spent; if they are spent like this, then they should also be spent in Tuzla, Mostar, and Banja Luka, and for the members of the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies to secure the New Year's Eve celebration – added Bećirović.

Damir Arnaut, SBB MP, stated that this is a completely unfounded request.

- This is a politically motivated request, and as far as I understood, the issue here is that the stage is on the stairs of the BiH PA building. Even if the stage were next to the stairs, the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies would still have the obligation to provide security, as it does every day. The second thing that should be mentioned is that the plateau in front of the BiH PA building is precisely a space for public gatherings, where citizens can come. This is unnecessary politicking, and it is necessary to emphasize that it is only a few steps in front of the BiH PA – added Arnaut.