Škrijelj: Ministry of Higher Education is blocking UNSA projects, they should stop acting like it's one individual's private ministry

(Patria) - Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, who will remain Rector of the University of Sarajevo until October, today presented numerous problems the University is facing in its work with the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth of KS and Minister Adna Mesihović (For New Generations) as well as the KS Government.

Škrijelj accused the minister of keeping important projects for the University in the Ministry's drawers.

At a press conference, he stated that this has halted the hiring of 150 assistants and the retention of promising individuals in BiH.

"Neither the project has been launched nor have we received an answer from the minister and Prime Minister Nihad Uk. Such a loss is irreparable. We are not given the opportunity to rejuvenate the University," said Škrijelj.

The second problem is the construction of the University of Sarajevo Campus.

"We requested that the construction of the Campus be declared a project of special interest for the Sarajevo Canton. To this day, our initiative has not been considered by the Government to take a stance. All of this is sitting in the Ministry's drawers," said Škrijelj.

He also added that insufficient funds have been allocated for the salaries of University employees from the KS Budget. He stated that they have been budgeted approximately eight million marks less for salaries.

"The fate of the National and University Library could befall us. They have tailored the budget in such a way that it is already known that these funds will not be sufficient for salaries for the last quarter of this year," he warned.

He emphasized that political attacks on the integrity of the University are intensifying.

"Certain members of the academic community, for personal gain and in collusion with the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth of KS, have attempted to exert pressure during the election of the rector, and afterwards on certain members of the University's Governing Board. The University's bodies and institutions are under pressure from the politics behind the relevant ministry, which is acting contrary to the Law on Higher Education of KS.

The University is facing serious problems from the politics that appointed Adna Mesihović as minister. If this is not stopped, the previously correct relationship between the University and the KS Government will be jeopardized," warned Škrijelj.

The President of the Student Parliament, Imran Pašalić, raised concerns about the absence of students in the drafting of the Law on Higher Education, "which has not been the case so far, and we will not support it".

He also commented on the condition of student dormitories, comparing them to prisons.

"Conditions are better in any prison in BiH than in a student dormitory," said Pašalić.
The Director of the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law, Dr. Rasim Muratović, stated that they do not have the conditions for the development of the institution, the development of the archive and library in their current premises.

He pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were evicted from their premises within the premises of the General Hospital "Abdulah Nakaš", where they had been located for many years, in order to create an isolation ward. The decision to evict was made by the KS Government in 2020.

This decision, among other things, states: "The Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law is ordered to (...) vacate the premises it currently occupies, immediately and without delay". Another point in this decision states: "The costs of relocating the Institute, as well as the adaptation and use of the new temporary space in the premises of the Student Dormitory in Nedžarići, will be covered by the Canton Government".

"Unfortunately, the costs of the Institute's stay (which amount to 127,000.00 marks per year) were paid only for 2020, and not for 2021, 2022, 2023, nor for 2024. The total debt at the end of 2023, which the KS Government was supposed to pay, amounted to 379,476.00 KM.

Because of this, the management of the Public Institution Student Center Sarajevo disconnected our electricity supply on March 4, 2024, without notice. We have approached the relevant ministry verbally and in writing multiple times to resolve these and other problems in the financing of the Institute.

Given that no adequate response has been received to our aforementioned letter of March 8, 2024, nor has anything serious been undertaken for over four months, and that the KS Government's debt, not the Institute's, is accumulating, and that the management of the Student Center constantly warns us that they cannot bear the costs of our stay, we wish to publicly appeal to the Prime Minister, the relevant minister, and all ministers in the KS Government to fulfill their obligations according to the aforementioned decision, and to systematically resolve the issue of our stay until a permanent solution is found - which is planned for the UNSA Campus," said Dr. Rasim Muratović.

The Dean of the Faculty of Criminal Justice, Criminology and Security Studies, Jasmin Ahić, called for an open dialogue with the KS Government "and the resolution of our problems".

Škrijelj concluded by calling on the Government and the relevant ministry to unblock the projects and to stop acting as if it were one individual's private ministry.

Incidentally, Minister Adna Mesihović was appointed at the proposal of Assembly member Damir Marjanović, a member of the KS Assembly, as was the Minister of Finance Afan Kalamujić.

Škrijelj stated that he will clearly state what they have in September if things do not change.

"We have been living and working in these premises for 75 years, buildings must be built, the university must be modernized," said Škrijelj.