GREGORIAN SUPPORTS DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION'S DECISION ON TWO BRCKO DISTRICT POLICE OFFICERS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 24,2007) – The Brcko District Supervisor Raffi Gregorian fully supports the Brcko Police Disciplinary Commission's recent decisions to terminate the employment contracts of two members of the Brcko District Police - Slobodan Katanic and Djordje Popovic,the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) said.

For more than a year, Supervisor Gregorian has received substantiated reports of Katanic’s and Popovic’s official misconduct, serious breaches of duty, lack of professionalism, inadequate professional performance, attempted political intimidation, and other actions that undermine the effectiveness of the Brcko District Police.

Because of these reports, Supervisor Gregorian was prepared to remove Katanic and Popovic from their positions in the Brcko District Police. He refrained from issuing a removal orders because the Brcko Chief of Police said he would try to get both officers to improve their behavior or, failing that, to subject them to the established disciplinary procedure.

The Supervisor stressed that the Arbitral Tribunal for Brcko placed critical importance on the establishment of a professional, multi-ethnic, democratically oriented, and accountable police force in the Brcko District. Upholding the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality, in particular amongst its senior managers, is essential to promote public confidence in the Brcko District police.

The Supervisor welcomed the fact that the Brcko Police Disciplinary Commission, as the responsible local body, can perform its duties effectively and hold police officials accountable for their misconduct.