Zvizdić and Kozadra Haven't Paid Scholarships to Children of Veterans and Martyrs for Months!

Canton Sarajevo is in the biggest financial crisis since the end of the war, and proof of this is the fact that the Canton Sarajevo Fund for Scholarships and Education of Children of Veterans, Fallen Veterans and Fallen Civilians-Victims of War "Ikre" paid out February scholarships for 1,930 beneficiaries only at the end of June, reports the Patria news agency.

Parents and children are disappointed because, despite the crisis in Canton Sarajevo, none of the leaders have given up their salaries. Rusmira Batalović, head of accounting at "Ikre", tells Patria that there is only one reason why scholarships are not being paid: lack of money and illiquidity.

- February's payment was around the end of June. The whole city is blocked. Police salaries are late, teachers and professors are going on strike. The situation is very difficult - says Batalović.

She states that she sent an urgent request to Muhamed Kozadra (SDA), acting Prime Minister of KS, and hopes that they will manage to pay the children at least one installment, even if only during the Bajram holidays.

- This is not the first time we have sent an urgent request; this morning I specifically called the assistant, and he told me they would try to secure one scholarship very soon - added Batalović.

Interestingly, Kozadra and his party leader Denis Zvizdić have not lacked anything during the crisis that has befallen the Canton. They continue to host large receptions and iftars in the most elite hotels in Sarajevo, clearly not thinking about the children of the bravest sons of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who literally live on 200 KM for half a month.

- The current government is not paying scholarships to the beneficiaries of the IKRE fund, and we are disappointed. Children of martyr families and demobilized veterans have earned the right to these scholarships, and so far not even half of the agreed amount has been paid. And soon, the competition for the next school year is to be announced, it's a shame - says a disappointed ARBiH veteran for NAP, whose son receives this scholarship.

The "Ikre" Fund, on the other hand, says they understand the people, but that it is not up to them, because they perform their duties properly and on time.

- As far as we are concerned, and the procedures we follow, we do everything within the legal timeframe, and if the payments were made within two hours, the children would have money in their accounts. However, the problem is money, insolvency, and illiquidity of the canton - added Batalović.