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Dr. Ahmed Smajic
Minister
Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Forestry
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dear Dr. Smajic,
For reasons outlined in the attached Decision, I herewith notify you that
under the powers vested in me, you are removed from your office with
immediate effect.
It is with great regret I am forced to acknowledge that during your term in
office you have failed to aid in the adoption of much needed reforms in the
important economic sectors of agriculture, water, and forests in an
expedient manner within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Yours sincerely,
Wolfgang Petritsch
cc: Mr. Edhem Bicakic
In the exercise of the powers vested in the High Representative by Article 5
of the Annex 10 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, according to which the High Representative "is the final
authority in the theater regarding interpretation of [the] Agreement on the
civilian implementation of the peace agreement";
Endorsing the interpretation of these powers given in paragraph XI, 2 of the
Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference held in Bonn on 10
December 1997, in particular, sub-paragraph c thereof, by means of which the
High Representative is entitled to take actions against persons holding
public positions who are found by the High Representative to be in violation
of legal commitments made under the Peace Agreement or the terms of its
implementation;
Noting the reiteration of the acknowledgement of such powers by the Peace
Implementation Council in Chapter X of the Annex to the Madrid Declaration
of 16 December 1998;
I hereby issue the following
Decision
To remove Dr. Ahmed Smajic from his position of Minister of Agriculture,
Water Resources and Forestry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This Decision has immediate effect.
Reasons for removal
Dr. Ahmed Smajic has persistently and seriously obstructed in numerous cases
the process of economic recovery in the Federation of BiH in his capacity as
the Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Forestry of the Federation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In particular, Dr. Ahmed Smajic is responsible for:
- Personally obstructing the identification and treatment of outbreaks
of infectious animal diseases. The knowledge of such outbreaks has been
known to Dr. Smajic since 1998, and a lack of appropriate action has
resulted in widespread sickness among domestic livestock and cross-infection
to human beings.
- Disregarding the strong advice of the Office of the High
Representative to assume his responsibility to propose and make
recommendations concerning outbreaks of infectious animal diseases within
the scope of his Ministry, in light of his constitutional responsibility to
do so.
- Insisting, against the advice of domestic and international experts,
on the release from quarantine of sick imported livestock before the animals
have been determined to be disease-free.
- Various acts of corruption through the introduction of Q-Fever via
imported goats and sheep.
- Demonstrating poor leadership by insisting on making misleading and
unfounded public statements, which avoid or downplay the urgency of action
to protect human and animal health for the good of the people of the
Federation.
These points subsequently resulted in the destruction of numerous livestock
and documented cases of human illness which has stultified the agricultural
economy and put the population of the Federation of BiH at risk.
The High Representative has repeatedly been compelled to intervene on behalf
of the international community, in order to de-block on-going obstruction of
reform and development within the economic sectors for which Dr. Smajic is
responsible.
- Under the guidance of Dr. Smajic, resistance to IC-led water reform
produced two years of stalemate and lost economic opportunity. Again, only
after immense IC pressure was brought to bear, did Dr. Smajic reluctantly
commit to an agriculture policy based on free market initiatives. The
implementation of genuine agricultural reform continues to be held back.
All of the above establishes a disturbing and unacceptable pattern of
inaction, and statements and actions that subvert economic reform. By
reason of his proven resistance to perform his statutory duties, I hereby
remove Dr. Ahmed Smajic from the position of Minister of Agriculture, Water
Resources, and Forestry. The decision will be effective immediately and
will not require any further procedural steps.
The position left vacant by the removal of Dr. Ahmed Smajic will be filled
in accordance with this decision. The Deputy Minister will serve as acting
Minister immediately, as and until such time a new Minister takes office.
In order to protect the institution, if position of Minister shall be not be
filled within 30 days, the High Representative shall designate an individual
who will serve in the capacity of Minister until such time as the vacancy
shall be filled by Constitutional procedure.
27 July 2000
Wolfgang Petritsch
High Representative
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