CBBH is open for discussions, but on the basis of certain and institutionally adopted decisions

On 19 October 2021, representatives of Municipality Centar and the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CBBH) had a working meeting at which they discussed the possibilities to change construction lots with purpose of the construction of the business building of the CBBH Sarajevo Main Unit. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Government, Mr.   Edin Forto, Chairman of Municipal Council, Mr. Sejad Đozo, Mr. Jasmin Ademović President of the Club of Narod i pravda (People and Justice) political party in the Municipal Council, and representatives of municipal administration. Although the CBBH is already suffering damage due to unjustified delay of the process and absence of the administration response, despite the fact that it is a legal owner of the construction lot in Kranjčevićeva Street, it has showed good will to discuss this issue and listen to the explanation of offers of Municipality Centar.

Previously, at the request of the CBBH, Municipality Centar, in its letter dated 15 October 2021, sent an information on the potential sites (construction lots) planned to be offered to the CBBH, those being:

1. The site in the closest vicinity to the SCC shopping centre,

2. The site by the skyscrapers Unitic (parking lot),

3. The site in Ciglane – Merhemića Square (parking lot),

4. The site in Velešići offered earlier.

We stress that these are preliminary discussions and that the decision on the change has not been made, as the competent bodies of the CBBH make such decision.

There are still no guarantees of the Municipality that it will ensure the fulfilment of the conditions mentioned in the remaining part of the text.  

When considering the possible sites, the CBBH will take into account potential costs and a possibility of the implementation of the existing design on a new site , as the change of the design, conducting of new competition for the selection of conceptual design and any additional financial costs, are completely unacceptable for the CBBH.

The Municipality Centar is waited to act

At the meeting, the CBBH requested from the Municipality Centar to ensure the following as soon as possible, but not longer than within 60 days:

- Written consent of all competent institutions, potential interest groups and the professional public, that the potential plot is acceptable for the construction of the CBBH business facility (Association of Architects, Institute for Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage, Institute for Construction of Sarajevo Canton, local community, Commission for Preservation of National Monuments of BH, the Municipal Council of the Municipality Centar, possibly the Sarajevo City and other entities);

- Guarantee of the Municipal Administration and the Municipality Centar that all spatial planning documentation can be adjusted and provided within 60 days, given the damage, due to loss of time that the CBBH is already suffering.

In this way, the CBBH requires the Municipality Centar to act in order to provide a reliable assurance that due to the potential change of locations, it will not face new "problems", demands of other stakeholders, negative opinions of the professional public and long deadlines in the implementation of the task.

The CBBH is ready to consider only those proposals that are not based on hypothetical solutions, but on legally grounded decisions made by competent institutions and bodies, primarily the Municipal Council.

The CBBH did not give up the plot in its ownership.

In the meantime, the CBBH will continue to use all available legal mechanisms to protect its interests and legally acquired ownership of the plot purchased for the sole purpose of building a business facility, which is clearly defined in the contract.