MIRJANIĆ: ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS OF BiH HAS STATUS OF CANTONAL ACADEMY

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 8 /SRNA/ - The Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH is not a scientific and artistic institution of BiH, and its registration would be contrary to the Constitution of BiH, said Dragoljub Mirjanić, president of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Republika Srpska /ANURS/.

"There is no law at the level of BiH regulating its status and organization, given that, under the Constitution of BiH, science, education and culture fall exclusively within the jurisdiction of the entities," Mirjanić told reporters in Banja Luka.

Mirjanić said that the Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH is not funded from the BiH budget, but from the Sarajevo Canton budget, which is why it is often referred to as a cantonal academy.

"I would point out that, under the Constitution of the Federation of BiH, this area is likewise not defined as a responsibility of the entity, but solely as a responsibility of the cantons in BiH," Mirjanić stressed.

He noted that the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in BiH was established in Mostar by a cantonal assembly, while ANURS was established by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska in 1993.

For years, the Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH has been seeking to register itself as a "state-level umbrella institution".