SARAJEVO, DECEMBER 6 (ONASA) – This year, the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina took advantage of the opportunity to distribute certain funds from the current reserve of the Budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There are no legal criteria when distributing funds, and the only obligation is to publish the decision on the allocation of funds in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the recipient of the funds is obliged to submit a report on the intended use of the allocated funds.
The members of the BiH Presidency Denis Bećirović, Željko Komšić and Željka Cvijanović spent a total of 337,650 BAM in the first 11 months. Denis Bećirović spent the most funds, while Željka Cvijanović is the only one whose figure is not six figures. Funds were received by various associations, as well as some public institutions, the members of the Presidency financed certain events where they later appeared and gave speeches, they also helped with the treatment of people, and funds were distributed in the field of sports as well as music events.
Chairman of the BiH Presidency Željko Komšić allocated 2,000 BAM for the treatment of a war invalid from Odžak, Biljana Begović received 16,125 BAM for the operation in Slovenia, Merisa Fatić 10,000 BAM for the operation of her daughter (5), and Mensad Bašić received 15,000 BAM for the treatment.
Four associations for children without parental care received financial assistance of 1,400 BAM each from Komšić, while the association from Lukavac, which works with people with developmental disabilities, received 3,000 BAM. The Center for Health Promotion and Improvement “Generacija” from Sarajevo also received 3,000 BAM.
Komšić did not skimp on sports either, but there was also a rather bizarre situation. Namely, KK Bosna received the same amount of funds as the completely anonymous FK Ozren Semizovac, 2,000 BAM to be exact. Ice skating club ICE Group received 3,000 BAM for going to an international competition, while KK Koš received 2,000 BAM for co-financing the Basketball Camp – Bjelašnica 2023. Ismail Barlov and Ismail Zulfić each received 10,000 BAM for preparations for the World Paraswimming Championship in Manchester. For the organization of the Maja Đokić memorial tournament, Komšić set aside 2,000 BAM.
Young physicists from Bosnia and Herzegovina were awarded 5,000 BAM for going to the International Physics Olympiad in Japan, while the Third Gymnasium received 10,000 BAM for a student exchange with a school in Japan.
In order to preserve memories from the war, 2,000 BAM was given to the Association “Juvenile Fighters of the Defense and Liberation War 1992-1995” of the Municipality of Centar, and the documentary film “Konjic – In the Chains of Aggression” was also given the same amount. 10,000 BAM has been set aside for the “Freedom Days of the Knight City of Bužim 2023” event, while 5,000 BAM has been allocated for “Days of Victory, Days of Pride”.
2,000 BA,M each was awarded to the Franciscan Media Center “Light of Words” for the publication of the book Lakes of BiH, the agricultural cooperative “Poljopromet” from Čelić for the Days of Berries, and the Association “Being a Journalist from Tuzla” for the realization of the journalist award “Nino Ćatić”.
The cultural festival “Slovo Gorčina” received 5,000 BAM, and the Association for the Protection of Historical Values “Haber” received 1,000 BAM for the premiere and promotion of the film and book on the topic “The Heroism of Bosnian Women”. When everything is added up, Željko Komšić spent 120,325 BAM.
Denis Bećirović spent a little more than his colleague, 126,025 BAM to be exact.
Unlike his colleague, he did not spend much on sports, except for a few exceptions. Bećirović did not save on the best BiH swimmer Lana Pudar, so her club “Orka” received 11,000 BAM for Pudar’s participation in international competitions. 1,400 BAM was awarded to young Merjem Džafić for participating in the World Chess Championship in Egypt.
Denis Bećirović also allocated funds to Srebrenica associations. The “Movement of the Mothers of the Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves” received 2,500 BAM for co-financing a visit to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts in The Hague, while 10,000 BAM was set aside for the Association of Genocide Victims and Witnesses for the trip to The Hague for the sentencing in the Stanišić and Simatović case. BAM 10,000 was also awarded to the Srebrenica Memorial Center – Potočari, for support in the work, renovation and operation of the library, archives and research projects.
The member of the BiH Presidency allocated money for religious communities and religious associations. Muslim charity “Merhamet” Kupres received 2,000 BAM, 4,000 BAM was set aside for the Banja Luka Mufti, in order to do the exterior decoration around the building of the new headquarters of the Mufti. The mufti of Travnica received 3,000 BAM for holding the event “513. days of Ajvatovice”. Banja Luka Diocese – Caritas Banja Luka received 2,000 BAM for assistance in work. The Majlis from Sanski Most received 3,000 BAM as financial support for the construction of the museum and the memorial room of General Mehmed Alagić.
Bećirović also set aside money for sensitive categories, such as the Center for Children with Multiple Disabilities “Steps of Hope” Tuzla, the Association of Cerebral Palsy and Dystrophy Patients BPK Goražde, the Association of Parents of Children with Developmental Difficulties “Mala Sirena” Zavidovići and the Association “EDUS “Education for all” received the amount of 1,875 BAM each. The center for children without parental care “Duga” in Kulen Vakuf and the association “Together we are one” each received 5,000 BAM.
The Association “Edus – Education for All” later received another 2,500 BAM for holding a summer school for children with developmental disabilities, and Bećirović allocated 10,000 BAM to the Association “Heart for Children with Cancer” for the construction of a Parent’s House within the Tuzla University Hospital.
In the health care segment, the Association of Cerebral Palsy and Dystrophy Patients BPK Goražde and the Donor Network of BiH from Sarajevo received money from Bećirović, 2,000 BAM each for both associations.
Bećirović also allocated money for various projects in the Tuzla Canton, where he also comes from. Thus, the Municipality of Čelić received 1,000 BAM to help with the economic and tourist event, and the City of Tuzla received 5,000 BAM to help with the construction of the Memorial on Brčanska Malta. For holding the Round Table in Kladnje, Bećirović allocated 2,000 BAM in aid to SABNOR.
Member of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović, allocated money for historically significant dates, as well as for associations that nurture the tradition of remembering the war. Thus, the Association of Citizens of Victims of the 92-95 War “16. April” Ahmići-Vitez received a grant of 5,500 BAM for the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Bosnians Ahmići and Vitez, and the Organization of war invalids of the City of Tuzla 92-95 was awarded 2,000 BAM for holding the Day of Tuzla units. The money was allocated for the “Alija Izetbegović” Foundation as support for the realization of the Academy on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of Alija Izetbegović. The BiH Presidency sponsored the “Freedom Days of the Knight City of Bužim 2023” event, so Bećirović set aside 10,000 BAM for that purpose. BAM 2,000 was allocated by Bećirović for the organization of a scientific meeting on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of ZAVNOBiH, organized by ANU BiH. In support of the work of the Association for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, the fight for BiH.
The Council of the Bosniak National Minority of the City of Zagreb received the amount of 2,000 BAM for the organization of the Vukovar-Srebrenica Ultramarathon, and the Association for the Protection of Historical Values “Haber” received 500 BAM for the premiere and promotion of the film and book on the topic “The Heroism of Bosnian Women”.
Denis Bećirović allocated BAM 7,000 to the Center for Education, Robotics, Innovation and Technology from Mostar for support in the work and participation in the FGC 2023 International Robotics Olympiad.
The strategic analysis initiative from Sarajevo was supported with 1,000 BAM for the operational costs of the Sarajevo Security Conference, while 1,000 BAM for treatment was given to academician Abdulah Sidran.
Presidency member Željka Cvijanović did not spend money in this way in the first more than half a year of her mandate, and then in just a few months she distributed 91,300 BAM.
The first Cvijanović transaction was generous, and it was 20,000 BAM to the Association “Eko Urban Centar” from East Sarajevo for help in holding the “BEERKA”-Natural beer festival. That Cvijanović loves music was shown even later when she allocated BAM 30,000 to the Trebinje Cultural Center for the Trebinje Jazz Festival.
Cvijanović allocated 20,000 for the implementation of the project “Analysis of the needs of the elderly in the urban settlement for volunteer services”, which was initiated by the Association for Social and Economic Development “Nebo”.
Željka Cvijanović also financed the project “Festival of Domestic Products 2023” with 15,000 BAM, which was implemented by the Banja Luka Association of Young Economists. Cvijanović and the Association for Helping Children and Youth with Special Needs “Glimpse of Hope” in Foča helped in the amount of 1,000 BAM.
Cvijanović distributed the remaining money for the treatment and education of several people in amounts from 300 to 1,000 BAM.