Police Agencies To Sign Mutual Aid And Assistance Agreement To Coordinate Emergency Response

In response to coordination challenges identified after protests in February 2014, the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), worked to facilitate the drafting of a mutual aid and assistance agreement (MAA) by five law enforcement agencies: the BiH Directorate for Police Coordination, the State Investigation and Protection Agency, the BiH Border Police, the Federation Police, and the Canton Sarajevo Police.  Representatives from the BiH Directorate for Police Coordination, the BiH Border Police, the Federation Police, and the Canton Sarajevo Police will attend the signing ceremony and sign the agreement on Tuesday, June 10.  Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy Nicholas Hill will deliver brief remarks at the event.

The MAA is a statement declaring that participating police agencies will work cooperatively to assist and support each other in an emergency situation.  It was developed through a series of working-level meetings between police agencies over the past eight weeks and has been legally vetted to ensure it corresponds with existing legislation governing the functioning of police agencies.

The U.S. Embassy has a long, positive relationship with police and security agencies at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly through ICITAP, as we work to support the development of professional and transparent law enforcement institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Press is invited to cover the MAA signing ceremony which will take place at 10:00 on Tuesday, June 10 at Hotel Bristol, Fra Filipa Lastrića 2, Sarajevo 71000.

ST