“The Director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency must be a professional of the highest calibre and integrity,” the High Representative and EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajčák, said today. “That is the most important requirement of the selection process for the new Director.

Statements by officials over the past few months and again last week implying otherwise are wholly inappropriate.”

The SIPA Director is one of the top police posts in the country: suggesting that such a post should go to anyone but the most qualified professional is an attempt to politically influence and undermine the appointment. In making this appointment the new Director’s ethnicity must not be the primary consideration.

The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) is BiH’s key institution in fighting organized crime, war crimes, terrorism, serious financial crime and human trafficking.

“Any serious politician will want to see the best professional candidate selected for the post of SIPA Director,” said the High Representative/EU Special Representative today.