US Government Official to Join the Sarajevo Canton Anti-Corruption Office

(Patria) - Director of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) at the U.S. Embassy Benjamin A. Rockwell visited Sarajevo Canton, and was received by the President of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly Danijela Kristić, Prime Minister Edin Forto, and Minister of Justice and Administration of Sarajevo Canton Lejla Brčić.

The working meeting is a continuation of cooperation between the U.S. Embassy in BiH and Sarajevo Canton in the field of anti-corruption, which was defined by a Memorandum of Understanding. This document was signed at the end of last year by Prime Minister Forto, U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Eric Nelson, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jorgan Andrews, and it outlines U.S. assistance in strengthening the capacities of the Sarajevo Canton Quality Control and Anti-Corruption Office.

The U.S. Embassy representative informed that their process of identifying an anti-corruption advisor, who is a U.S. citizen, is in its final phase, and that this person will work within the Anti-Corruption Office. This individual has experience in successfully investigating and prosecuting cases of public corruption.

They emphasized that their goal is to build capacities and support institutional cooperation between the Sarajevo police, the Prosecutor's Office, the Sarajevo Canton Quality Control and Anti-Corruption Office, and other institutions. As part of this, they are funding the Criminal Justice Cooperation and Partnership Program in the fight against corruption in BiH.

“Also, we are satisfied that our partners have expressed readiness for cooperation during 2020 in the field of corruption prevention and raising awareness about the harmfulness of corruption through educational programs aimed at young people,” said Brčić.

The U.S. Embassy representatives expressed full commitment and support for the implementation of the initiated processes, so that the good practices established in Sarajevo Canton, which have also been recognized in reports by international experts, can be transferred to other areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The meeting particularly highlighted that the main goal of this cooperation is to narrow the space for corruption, but also to bring those responsible to justice, in order to restore citizens' trust in public authorities and institutions that ensure the rule of law.