Who does Mekić work for: Rifat Škrijelj wants the rector's position, but lacks unified SDA support

After the University of Sarajevo's Governing Board, chaired by Mevludin Mekić, at a session held on December 29, 2015, problematized the work of the current rector, Prof. Dr. Muharem Avdispahić, even calling for his dismissal, the interests of certain structures within the UNSA academic community who see themselves in the rector's position have begun to emerge, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

Interestingly, the dismissal was "timed" just two months before the end of Rector Avdispahić's term. At the last session, Dobrila Govedarica-Nevjestić submitted her resignation, and the first to do so, a month after his appointment in January 2014, was the esteemed professor Esad Duraković, who warned of a scenario aimed at undermining the University's integrity.

As the Bosnian news agency Patria learns, three names are in play seeking support to succeed Prof. Avdispahić.

One of them is Rifat Škrijelj, dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Sarajevo, who was a direct lobbyist for the appointment of Mevludin Mekić as president of the UNSA Governing Board in December 2013. Both were born in Montenegro and know each other well. Mekić was appointed head of the UNSA Governing Board despite a direct violation of the Rules on the Election and Appointment of the President and Members of the Governing Board, because he is a professor at the University of Vitez in Travnik. However, Škrijelj was then head of the Appointment Commission, so Mekić's appointment passed without much debate.

As Patria learns, Mekić is also a close relative of Sebija Izetbegović, the wife of the Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency, Bakir Izetbegović, and the newly elected director of UKCS. Mekić's brother Hajradin is the chief of staff of the FBiH Minister of Interior, Aljoša Čampara, so it is now clear that support for Rifat Škrijelj comes directly from Denis Zvizdić, former president of the SDA Cantonal Board, now vice-president of the SDA. It is known that Škrijelj has been well-regarded within the SDA for years, but it is increasingly heard that he lacks unified support from the SDA Cantonal Board, though he has the support of the Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton, Elmedin Konaković.

On the other hand, another member of the UNSA Governing Board appointed contrary to the Rules is Sifet Kukuruz, who works in the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Sarajevo Canton and does everything to help Škrijelj achieve his goal. Thus, instead of dealing with irregularities in the UNSA Governing Board, Kukuruz himself is part of the game of well-connected individuals.

The second candidate whose name can be heard is Izet Rađo, former dean of the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, who was also a candidate in 2012, and in the second round of voting between him and Avdispahić, Avdispahić received more Senate votes. However, according to Patria's findings, Rađo will not have support for this position.

The third name is Faruk Čaklovica, former rector of UNSA and a professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Sarajevo.

However, among those familiar with the situation in the Senate, it can be heard that the rector's position cannot again go to someone from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.