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Effective immediately, the High Representative Carlos Westendorp has removed
Ferid Hodzic, the Interior Minister of the Tuzla-Podrinje Canton (TPK,
Canton 3), from office for failure to support the rule of law and fulfill
the duties of his office.
Mr. Hodzic has directly interfered with several ongoing investigations into allegations of fraud, corruption, racketeering and abuse of official office made against TPK Prime Minister Hazim Vikalo and others. Just recently, Mr. Hodzic has withdrawn Osman Osmanovic from the position of Chief of the Organized Crime Unit of the TPK Police. This move clearly obstructs the important investigative activities of the Cantonal Police and others. The High Representative calls on all officials in the TPK Canton to investigate the allegations fully, fairly, impartially and transparently. The High Representative and the International Community are committed to work with local officials in fighting fraud, corruption and economic crime, and to ensure that funds donated by the international community and taxes paid by local citizens benefit the citizens, and not racketeers. The High Representative also calls on all public officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina to bring transparency to their work.
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