The Public Enterprise Autoceste of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed that the representatives from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) have conducted official activities on its premises.
As they said, the activities were carried out to collect documentation referring to certain projects on Corridor Vc and public procurement procedures implemented under international procedures in the period from 2018 to 2022.
“PE Autoceste FBiH has, from the start, shown full, open, and unreserved cooperation with OLAF. The required agreements, annexes, technical and financial documentation, electronic communication, and access to the Company’s information systems have been put at disposal,” they said.
They pointed out that OLAF had no laptops, computers, drives, printers, or paper shredders, and that this is purely media speculation.
“We welcome every legal and independent investigation, because only a complete analysis of official documentation and all relevant facts could give an objective response to all open questions,” they said.
Message to the Citizens
They also sent a message to the citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“We are aware that the information that has been reaching the public in the last couple of months, referring to public institutions and large infrastructure projects, leaves a bad impression on the citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the employees of the PE Autoceste FBiH. We understand the public concern. At the same time, we believe that legal and independent procedures create an opportunity for the first time in a long time to shed light on all circumstances that have marked the realization of some infrastructure projects, in a fully independent and legal way. The current Administration of the PE Autoceste FBiH is aware that problems that have been piling up for years cannot be resolved overnight. The irregularities that have eventually emerged over a long time cannot be erased with one move, or answers given in a single day,” the statement said.
They added that it is important to address all relevant factual claims based on the complete official documentation and legal and competent procedures.
“Despite the complexity of the processes that are ahead of us, we are determined to make the PE Autoceste BiH an example of public enterprises where legality, transparency, and accountability will have absolute priority. We believe that procedures today led by the OLAF, EPPO, domestic prosecutor’s offices, and other relevant institutions, will enable the complete clarification of all relevant facts, lawful processing of all responsible physical and legal entities for which liability is established in the proceedings, as well as the protection of the financial interests of PE Autoceste FBiH and the citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” they added.
They emphasized that they are convinced that termination of these procedures would put an end to any undue influence by interest groups on the operations of PE Autoceste FBiH and establish a system in which the only criteria will be law, expertise, transparency, and public interest.
“Our goal is not to engage in media disputes. Our goal is for the facts to be established by competent institutions, for those found guilty of causing harm to PE Autoceste FBiH in a lawful proceeding to be held accountable, and for the protection of the integrity of all honest employees who are professional and responsible in their work. This won’t represent the end of a procedure for the PE Autoceste BiH, but a beginning of the Company’s new development stage in which there will be no room for lack of transparency, privileged individuals, or any other form of undue influence on decision-making,” they added.
They Won’t Tolerate Corruption
They emphasized that after all domestic and international procedures are finalized, PE Autoceste FBiH will emerge as a stronger, more professional, and more transparent institution, free from any undue influence and powerful interest groups that could undermine its work.
“This will be the light at the end of the tunnel not only for the PE Autoceste FBiH, but for all citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to whom we owe the lawful management of every single public mark, the protection of the public interest, and full accountability for every realized infrastructure project,” they said.
The company believes that the public has a right to complete and verified information about projects financed with public and international funds.
Therefore, the public must consider the complete documentation, including expert opinions, implemented controls, and formal approvals by international financial institutions, rather than just individual documents taken out of a broader context. PE Autoceste FBiH is seriously concerned because some media reports name individuals who, according to the company’s structures and procedures of international financial institutions, were not authorized to make decisions on the subject contractual claims and annexes. At the same time, the complete documentation, international expert opinions, and formal approvals from international financial institutions are being withheld from the public. Such reporting is not in the interest of objective public formation,” the company’s statement said.
They emphasized that the current Administration of the PE Autoceste FBiH will continue to implement the zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, abuse of office, and all forms of illegal action.
They added that they won’t give up on protecting the public interest, transparent management of public funds, and cooperation with domestic and international institutions.
They emphasized they expect all participants in the public sphere, including the media, to respect the presumption of innocence, professional standards, and accountability to the public.
“PE Autoceste FBiH is convinced that the complete documentation, international controls, decisions of financial institutions, and proceedings of the competent authorities will give an objective response to all questions in the public interest. PE Autoceste FBiH has nothing to hide. Our response is not a media debate. Our response is facts, official documentation, full cooperation with all competent institutions,” they concluded, Klix.ba writes.
