29.04.1999

Decision removing Ferid Hodzic from his position as Minister of Interior of Tuzla Canton

Mr. Ferid Hodzic
Minister of Interior
Tuzla Canton

On repeated occasions you have systematically impeded the application of the Rule of Law in Tuzla Canton on repeated occasions. Such activities include:

You directly interfered with the Cantonal and Federal Police investigation of Mr.Izet Hadzic’s allegations. You used your public office to coerce and intimidate police officers to prevent them from performing their duties. You intimidated, coerced or attempted to bribe police officers so they would engage in a cover-up of the wrong-doing in the Canton. You perpetrated the cover-up of illegal Tuzla-Podrinje Cantonal financial practices by unlawfully ordering that material evidence be deleted from the official police report. Because you deleted vital evidence from the official police report, the case was referred from the Cantonal to the Municipal Court as a minor offense. You also removed Mr. Osman Osmanovic, who was in charge of investigating these important allegations, from his position as Head of the Tuzla Department of Organized Crime so that he would not be able to continue to assist in the investigations.

It is clear that the Rule of Law, which I am charged with establishing, cannot operate in Tuzla Canton as long as you remain in office.

I herewith relieve you from your office under the authorities vested in me under Section IX of the Bonn PIC Declaration and I forbid you from exercising the functions of Cantonal Minister of Interior, effective immediately.

A copy of this letter will be forwarded to Federation President Ivo Andric-Luzanski, Federation Vice President Ejup Ganic, Federation Minister of Interior Mehmed Zilic, Acting Deputy Minister of Interior Tomislav Mihalj, Tuzla Canton President Tarik Arapcic, Tuzla Canton Prime Minister Hazim Vikalo, Tuzla Canton Deputy Minister of Interior Anto Pranjic, Special Representative of the Secretary General Elizabeth Rehn, and Detlef Buwitt, IPTF Commissioner.

Carlos Westendorp
High Representative

Office of the High Representative