On Thursday, Senior Deputy High Representative Hanns Schumacher traveled to Bugojno with the three Federation Ombudsmen to meet with Mayor Dzevad Mlaco, and President of the Bugojno Municipal Assembly, Ivo Mrso.
The Ambassador and the Ombudsmen introduced to the local officials two representatives of the Office of the Federation Ombudsmen and a representative of the OSCE who will be conducting a special investigation into allegations of misallocation of state-owned property in Bugojno and irregularities in the implementation of the Federation property legislation. Ambassador Schumacher noted that allegations of misallocation of state-owned property are not unique to Bugojno. He emphasized, however, that the record of the Bugojno municipal housing department is one of the worst in the federation, following the recent report of ICG on the politics of return in Bugojno and Jajce. Both matters are issues of grave concern in many municipalities in both the Federation and in the RS. Bugojno is not a special case, but the results of this investigation may serve as a model for similar investigations in other municipalities.
Ambassador Schumacher reminded the Bugojno authorities of their obligations under the Federation Constitution to cooperate fully with the Federation Ombudsmen and added that he held the mayor personally responsible for ensuring the security of the investigation team.
Mayor Mlaco welcomed the team and stated that they would receive the full cooperation of the Bugojno authorities. Ambassador Schumacher will visit Bugojno to discuss the implementation of recommendations by the Federation Ombudsmen once the investigation is completed.