Sarajevo Canton Government Appointed Mirza Ibrahimović Head of the Srebrenica Office

(Patria) - The Sarajevo Canton Government accepted the appointment of Mirza Ibrahimović as the head of the Sarajevo Canton Government Office for Srebrenica, which unblocks the process of implementing the Law on Special Programs of the Sarajevo Canton for the memorialization of genocide, support for return and development of Srebrenica, assistance to victims and families of victims of genocide against Bosniaks in the UN protected zone of Srebrenica, adopted in April 2022.

- Considering that this year we mark 30 years since the genocide in Srebrenica, I believe that the Office will soon be fully operational. The budget of the Sarajevo Canton already provides funds for its work and planned support programs. This legal solution represents a key step in systemic support for return, memorialization of genocide, and the overall development of this region.

On this occasion, I would like to thank Igor Stojanović and all the deputies, regardless of their party affiliation, who jointly carried out the process of adopting this law and truly worked to ensure that the Sarajevo Canton has a clear and concrete response in its policy towards returnees to eastern Bosnia.

This is a historic step that previous governments did not have the strength to take, as they based that relationship on blackmail and charity, instead of cooperation and respect for the courage and dignity of our people in Srebrenica, Bratunac, and the entire Podrinje region - stated the Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk.

Mirza Ibrahimović is a political scientist by profession, a graduate of the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo. He is a long-term expert in election process monitoring, and he has built his experience as a collaborator on numerous international and domestic projects dedicated to local development. In addition to his engagement in the public sector, he has also gained significant experience in the real sector, where he held management positions in a business company.

- The tender procedure, conducted by the Civil Service Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, lasted a long time, but it was conducted transparently and in the best possible way. Now we have a person without political blemishes, who understands the needs of the community and who can lead this process responsibly and legally. Along with the Srebrenica Memorial Center, which plays a key role in the memorialization of genocide, the Srebrenica Office will become one of the leading institutions for the future and survival of returnee communities in eastern Bosnia. We did not make big promises, but we fulfilled everything we said. That is my message as Prime Minister, and I hope it will be heard by all to whom it is intended - added Uk.

The Law on Special Programs of the Sarajevo Canton for the memorialization of genocide, support for return and development of Srebrenica, as well as assistance to victims and families of victims of genocide against Bosniaks in the UN protected zone of Srebrenica, defines a series of programs aimed at the reconstruction and renovation of facilities, support for infrastructure projects, education and vocational training, co-financing of studies, and support for research projects on genocide, return, and human rights.

The law also includes activities of free legal aid, support programs for investments in this local community, as well as projects in the fields of culture, art, and sports. Special attention is paid to the mobility of highly qualified labor, the annual grant to the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center - Memorial and cemetery for the victims of the 1995 genocide, and cooperation with civil associations and foundations operating in the field of sustainable return, protection of human rights, and the fight against discrimination.

In addition, the law provides for programs to support civic organizing in eastern Bosnia, subsidize the organization of public transport, assistance to parents and children through special support measures upon the birth of a child, continuous assistance to parents with three or more children until they reach adulthood, as well as programs to improve healthcare in the Sarajevo Canton.

- The law will, in many segments, provide support to the families of genocide victims, not only from Srebrenica but also from the wider region of eastern Bosnia. Also, through it, we will ensure the full implementation of the Law on the Rights of Persons Returning from the Sarajevo Canton to their Pre-War Places of Residence, enabling them to exercise their rights in the areas of health, social, and veteran-disability protection. It is our responsibility to care for the people in eastern Bosnia, and we confirm this with concrete actions. Today, we have taken another important step on that path – thank you all for your support - concluded Prime Minister Uk.