SARAJEVO, July 2 (FENA) - The U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has decided to immediately suspend its Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton.
After the Zenica-Doboj Assembly passed amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs designed to reduce good governance, U.S. Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson sent a letter to the Zenica-Doboj authorities regarding the immediate suspension of an MOU with the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton, announced the US Embassy in BiH.
In this regard, Ambassador Nelson sent a letter to ZDC Prime Minister Mirnes Bašić and ZDC Assembly Speaker Ćazim Huskić informing them that the US Embassy had decided to immediately suspend the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the ZDC Government.
The Memorandum provided for cooperation in the fight against corruption through our Senior Anti-Corruption Advisor Program.
"The recent passage of amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs designed to reduce police independence, transparent good governance, legal certainty, and the rule of law, causes the U.S. Embassy to conclude the Zenica-Doboj Canton Government will not be a reliable partner in fighting corruption," it is said in the letter.
The letter also stated that they remain committed to promoting democracy, transparency, accountability, and democratic governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the Western Balkans, consistent with the standards the countries of the region must meet in order to secure their goals of advancing on the European path.
"As a demonstration of this commitment, President Biden has signed a new Executive Order which expands sanctions designation criteria, to address current challenges such as corruption, and other actions that obstruct key institutions and international agreements, including new agreements and institutions," it is stated in the text of the letter.
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