Bosnia's NATO commission chairman abused power, says fmr commission member

N1

The decision of Bosnia's NATO commission chairman to send for discussion in the Council of Ministers the Annual National Programme (ANP) is an arbitrary act and it violates procedures, Boris Jerinic, a former member of the commission told Srna news agency on Friday.

The Government Commission for the NATO Integration convened on Thursday and although nine of the members were absent the body had the necessary quorum to hold the meeting, Commission Chairman Josip Brkic told N1 on Thursday.

All nine members who failed to attend the meeting come from Bosnia's Serb-dominated Republika Srpska (RS) entity, whose leaders oppose the NATO membership.

Related news

Following the session, the commission chairman sent to the Council of Ministers the draft ANP, Deputy Defence Minister Mijo Kresic confirmed for Srna news agency.

“Why is there a commission at all when one person can decide alone on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Jerinic, who used to act as the commission member from RS.

According to his interpretation, the absence of nine members in the session means the Commission had no quorum for passing decisions.

“If there was no consent of the Commission, Chairman Brkic obviously abused power,” said Jerinic, hoping that the Council of Ministers would reject the document.

NATO foreign ministers decided at their last meeting to give a green light for Bosnia to submit its first ANP which practically means activation of the Membership Action Plan and a step closer to the NATO membership.