Puharić: The key question is not whether BIMA deserves recognition, but whether it is in the City's interest to award it under the current circumstances

(Patria) - The Sarajevo City Council will tomorrow consider a request to review the Decision on awarding the collective April 6 Award of the City of Sarajevo to the Medical Association BIMA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with a proposal to annul it.

Given that the session is closed to the public, Mayor Predrag Puharić, who submitted this request, stated in order to better inform citizens that, although he has no formal authority in deciding on the award, he has a responsibility to protect the reputation and interests of the City of Sarajevo.

- I expected that the councilors, as elected representatives of the citizens, would open a discussion on all aspects of this case and its implications for the city's reputation, given that most of them have been in the City Council for the past four years and should be thoroughly familiar with the details of the dispute with BIMA.

Respecting the independence of the Council and the Award Committee, I did not wish to influence their work. However, I now consider it my duty to point out certain facts that may be relevant to this decision - Puharić emphasizes.

According to him, the key question is not whether BIMA deserves recognition, but whether it is in the City's interest to award it under the current circumstances.

He reminds that criminal proceedings are underway against the president and secretary of the organization, while the City of Sarajevo has initiated civil litigation against the association itself for the misuse of budget funds in the amount of 40,000 KM, as determined by the Budget Inspectorate of the Ministry of Finance of the Sarajevo Canton.

- In light of the above, a legitimate question arises - would we award a prize to an association if it had filed a lawsuit against the City - Puharić asks.

He emphasizes that his request is not a political act and is not directed against an organization whose contribution is unquestionable, but rather represents an effort to ensure legal and ethical consistency in the work of the city administration, preserve the integrity and reputation of the City, as well as citizens' trust in the institutions that represent them.