Principal Deputy High Representative and Brčko District Supervisor Michael Scanlan attended a presentation of mine clearance activities in Brčko on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. The event highlighted that the District is on track to be mine-free by 2024.
In that context, the Supervisor welcomes the commitment of an additional 400,000 KM by the District Government through this spring’s budget rebalance to ensure the demining deadline is met. Scanlan also welcomes the application of new transparency procedures to the budget rebalance process to help strengthen its integrity. A transparent adoption process is the first of many steps that are required for establishing targeted, responsible public spending – to make sure every KM is spent on the needs of the community and nothing is lost through corruption or questionable grants and subsidies in agriculture or other sectors.
The Supervisor reminds Brčko authorities to remain focused on reforms and not to be drawn into the polemics of the current political crisis in BiH or the upcoming general elections.
This was the commitment the Brčko leadership made in their commendable joint statement last December.
The Supervisor expects the leaders to honour that commitment and for all other elected officials to follow that example, be they in the majority or the opposition.
