KONAKOVIĆ IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO SIGN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF BiH

SARAJEVO, APRIL 7 /SRNA/ - The Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, Elmedin Konaković, does not have the authority to sign any kind of international agreement on his own initiative on behalf of BiH, nor to give power of attorney for representation to any consultant, said Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac.

Košarac stated that he was informed that at the end of March, Konaković signed a contract on the provision of consulting services with the US-based lobbying house Bosnian American Alliance INC, which is represented by a certain Almas Šehić.

By doing that, Košarac pointed out, Konaković acted without the consent of the BiH Presidency, violating the Constitution and Dayton jurisdiction.

Košarac explained that the disputed "contract" did not go through the necessary procedures, including the public selection of the consulting company, that is, the public procurement procedure.

"It is about the material that, outside the Constitution and the necessary consents, was signed on behalf of BiH and certified with the seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, without it having been previously approved by the Presidency of BiH, as the only constitutionally competent authority for conducting foreign policy, and that the material in question was not determined by the Council of Ministers," Košarac posted on Instagram.

Košarac pointed out that Konaković is misleading the other side and the entire public that this is an act and position of BiH, which is a serious offense and initiates the launch of responsibility for possible abuse of official position and authorization of the minister "who obviously confused the MFA and the People and Justice".

"Taking into account all of the above, the contested `contract` is legally void," Košarac stated.

According to him, Konaković continues with the practice of abusing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers and unprecedented diplomatic scandals.

"No one disputes Konaković's right to sign anything in his personal name, but he does not have the right or the necessary consent to do so on behalf of BiH," Košarac stressed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers hired American businessmen from BiH in the USA, who signed a contract with a lobbying house "with the aim of bringing closer and improving relations between BiH and the USA".