RELOCATION UNDERWAY Skaka took out a multi-million loan but the Eternal Flame building reconstruction has not been completed

SARAJevo, (Patria) – In July 2020, the City of Sarajevo took out a loan of KM 10,000,000 from the Development Bank of FBiH for several projects, including the reconstruction of the Eternal Flame building, to which the City Administration is expected to move soon. In 2020, the City of Sarajevo's budget revenue was about KM 3 million lower due to the situation caused by the coronavirus.

According to Patria's sources from the City Administration, about KM 4 million was allocated for the reconstruction of the Eternal Flame building, and part of the space has been agreed to be leased to the European Union Delegation, for which an agreement has already been signed.

In November 2019, a decision was made to relocate the City Administration from its current building, which also houses the FBiH Parliament, which requires more space for its needs. That year, the office of the Mayor of Sarajevo, Abdulah Skaka, was completely reconstructed at a cost of over KM 100,000, and the office of the City Council Chairman was also renovated. Over KM 60,000 was spent on furniture for Skaka's office alone. Thus, the City of Sarajevo spent hundreds of thousands of marks from the City Budget on the reconstruction and furnishing of premises from which they are soon moving out.

Our sources claim that the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, Mirsad Zaimović, will move into the renovated mayor's office. Maja Hadžihalilović, who is currently the secretary of the City Administration, is also expected to move there.

On 01/22/2021, Zaimović sent a letter to the City of Sarajevo requesting the vacating of the DPO building (the premises where the City Administration is currently located) by 02/28/2021. Zaimović noted that the FBiH Government made a decision in October 2019, and the Sarajevo City Council in November 2019, to exchange business premises between the Eternal Flame (former SDK building) and the DPO Skenderija building. Žurnal published an article about this decision, stating that the decision was controversial for several reasons. 

About 100 employees of the City Administration are expected to move into the Eternal Flame building, and an inspection of the building's premises by the Labour and Occupational Safety Inspectorate has been requested due to suspicions that it does not meet even the minimum conditions for the safe stay and work of employees. 

The Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs confirmed to Patria that they have received two anonymous complaints requesting an inspection of the Eternal Flame building premises,

“Given that the occupational safety inspection, in accordance with Article 1 of the Law on Occupational Safety, supervises the application of this law and regulations enacted based on it, which do not include supervision over relocation, or the suitability and allocation of workspaces, a Conclusion of the cantonal labour inspector in the field of occupational safety was issued, rejecting both submissions due to lack of jurisdiction, in accordance with the provisions of Article 65, Paragraph 4 of the Law on Administrative Procedure of FBiH“, stated the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs to Patria.

Allegedly, the electrical installations in the Eternal Flame building are over 70 years old, and numerous electrical outlets are burnt out. The third floor of the Eternal Flame building is unsuitable for any business activities, according to a letter from the Service for General Affairs and Common Affairs sent to the Public Procurement Service of the City of Sarajevo.

Some painting and carpet laying works are underway in the Eternal Flame building, but employees state that this is a “superficial tidying up” of the actual situation and that these premises do not meet even the minimum conditions for the work of the City Administration. 

In addition to the City Administration, the Ministry of Finance of the Sarajevo Canton is also expected to be housed in the Eternal Flame building.

Obligations of the City of Sarajevo towards the European Union Delegation

The contract signed by the City of Sarajevo and the EU Delegation regarding the rental of space on the ground floor of the building states that the EU Delegation accepts the premises in their current condition, with the possibility of requesting further work from the City of Sarajevo if the building or installations are insufficient for the needs of opening and operating the EU information center. According to the contract, the EU Delegation is to lease 669 square meters of space on the ground floor of the building. The Delegation undertakes to bear the costs of reconstructing the facade, external carpentry, and roof of the entire building in an amount to be agreed upon between the contracting parties.

“The EU Delegation reserves the right to unilaterally terminate the Lease Agreement without any obligation to compensate the City of Sarajevo if the premises are not available for unimpeded use under the terms of this Agreement one month from the start of the lease“, states the Agreement signed by Mayor Skaka and Head of the EU Delegation Johann Sattler.

The monthly rent would be 1 KM.

Although the EU Delegation has committed to adapting the leased premises, the City of Sarajevo is obliged to ensure that the structure and all technical and other installations are in a safe and good condition and in accordance with the health and safety regulations applicable in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that they are of sufficient capacity and quality to provide the necessary services for the needs of the EU Delegation.