Dnevni avaz: Adopting the Law on conflict of interests on level of the Federation of BiH is only one of the urgent tasks which the High Representative, Miroslav Lajčak dictated during the meeting with the federal Prime Minister, Nedžad Branković. Mr. Lajčak did not mention any concrete case of some officials in the Government of the Federation of BiH or the governments of cantons, who misuse the current undefined situation, but it is obvious that there are cases of misuse of their function while hiring the relatives, or for getting an indirect financial benefit.
An intensive argument
Even if the state Law on conflict of interests has been active since 2002, it is not applied in the Federation of BiH. Despite the fact that this canton had a deadline of 60 days to do so, it has never accepted its own legal solutions, or at least did take on the regulation of BiH. Because of this it is not even possible to sanction situations in which the close relatives of delegates, ministers or directors of federal institutions hire their family members. In the same way it is not possible to sanction acceptance of gifts priced over 100 KM, financial interests of relatives through the companies which cooperate with the Government of the Federation of BiH, or the governments of cantons, usage of the privileged information, and other precisely defined transactions which are being controlled by Election Commission of BiH. During an intensive argument it was discussed whether the father in law of the Minster of Public Affairs of BiH, Senad Šepić should receive the compensation in the local communal company, hundreds of ministers, advisors and directors on level of the Federation of BiH do not take responsibility for such situations.
Financial benefit
In the Federation of BiH has been from February 2003 precisely forbidden membership of the ministers in the administrative and supervisory committees by the Law on governmental and ministerial nominations. Since the Law on conflict of interests does not exist in the Federation of BiH, misuse of the positions which is being prevented in the institutions of BiH, has been legally ensured. According to available information, after Lajčak’s open demand, the Government of the Federation of BiH will launch the procedure of taking on the state regulation so the control can further be led by the Election Commission of BiH. Besides financial sanctions, violating the Law on conflict of interests also predicts sanctions of work performing in state administration in duration of 4 years.