BOSNIAK MEMBER BLOCKING LEGAL FUNCTIONING OF COMMISSION THROUGH MANIPULATIONS

EAST SARAJEVO, May 2 /SRNA/ – Member of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments Anđelina Ošap-Gaćanović told SRNA that the Bosniak member of the Commission Faruk Kapidžić, although he publicly claimed to have submitted a resignation request, has been obstructing the implementation of decisions and the legal functioning of the Commission through various manipulations for two years.

Gaćanović explained that Kapidžić persistently insists on using terminology not found in Annex 8 of the Dayton Peace Accords, even though this issue has been addressed through amendments to the laws of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, thus obstructing the work of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments. "Attempts to classify properties by territory rather than by the cultural, historical, religious, and ethnic criteria prescribed by Annex 8 of the Dayton Peace Agreement were halted once legal amendments were passed in the Federation of BiH, and then in Republika Srpska, explicitly defining the use of the term `national monument,` without the addition of `BiH,`" Gaćanović explained. She added that Kapidžić manipulates numerous administrative processes within the institution and insists on enforcing concepts that have no legal basis. "This further reveals his manner of work, which does not respect the equal rights of all three constituent peoples within this institution," said Gaćanović. She noted that during the last ten months in which she chaired the Commission, Kapidžić prevented every single scheduled session from taking place — by failing to appear, ignoring the scheduling, or obstructing the adoption of the agenda. According to her, in April only one session of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments was held, at which Kapidžić opposed all items on the agenda. She also stated that Kapidžić holds another public office as a representative in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, which presents a conflict of interest. Gaćanović further claimed that the Croatian member of the Commission Zoran Mikulić receives two salaries from two public positions he holds, as he is also currently a representative in the Assembly of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton.