At whose expense is BS touring New York? More ministers and MPs from the same party in the USA

Minister of Foreign Affairs (MVP) and President of the Bosniak Party (BS) Ervin Ibrahimovic as part of an official visit to the USA, ministers and MPs of that party who stay there privately, traditionally before the New Year in New York, meet with the diaspora, which makes up a significant part of their voters and potential financiers.

At the expense of which some of the ministers and officials of the BS are staying in New York, "Vijesta" was not answered yesterday from all the departments they manage, as well as from the Assembly and the Bosniak Party (BS).

Ibrahimović, Minister for Diaspora Mirsad Azemović, Minister of Mining, Oil and Gas Admir Šahmanović and epistles BS Kenana Strujić Harbić i Edina Dešić were announced as guests at the "Open Forum on Homeland" event, which is organized today by the Islamic Community and the "Plav-Gusinje" cultural center in New York.

According to data from the Government's website, the only current platform for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ervin Ibrahimović, is that he will visit the United States of America (USA) from December 23 to 27, 2024. He is officially alone in the delegation, and the expenses of his trip are covered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The official time for the visit of the Minister of Diaspora Mirsad Azemović to the USA expired yesterday, since he was on an official visit to the USA from December 15 to 23, so, as confirmed by the Ministry of Diaspora to "Vijesta", he will extend his stay in the USA at his own expense. New York in one day.

"We inform you that Minister Azemović will extend his stay in the United States of America for one more day, but not at the expense of the Ministry of Diaspora, but at his own expense," the Ministry of Diaspora replied.

Previously, it was announced to "Vijesti" from the Government that the platform for the official visit of the Minister of Diaspora Mirsad Azemović to the USA states that the visit will end on December 23, 2024.

"The costs of this visit are borne by the Ministry of Diaspora, so accordingly we have forwarded the questions to them for an answer," the Government's reply states.

According to the Government's platform, the costs of accommodation, transport and per diem for him and the secretary of the ministry Adel Omeragić for the period from December 15 to 23, they cost 10.091 euros.

During his official visit to New York, Azemović officially met with representatives of the Albanian community in Staten Island, led by the president Nasser Nika, Member of Parliament of New York State To Sam Pirozzolo, public prosecutor Michael McMahon, and he was also at the donor dinner organized by the Gusinje Foundation in New York.

The Government replied to "Vijesti" that "until this moment the Government has not considered a platform for the visit of the Minister of Mining, Oil and Gas Admir Šahmanović to New York": "According to the above, your question has been forwarded to this Ministry for an answer".

Nor did Šahmanović's department answer whether he is staying in New York at his own expense.

Considering that MPs Kenana Strujić Harbić and Edina Dešić from the Parliament of Montenegro and the party to which they belong were also announced as guests of the "Open Forum on the Homeland" event, the questions about whether the MPs went to New York at the expense of the Parliament, i.e. , parties.

In the official platform, it is planned that Ibrahimović will attend the traditional New Year's cocktail organized by the Consulate General of Montenegro in New York on December 23, and that during the visit, he will hold working meetings with representatives of the diaspora association - emigrants from Montenegro in the USA.

"The meetings will cover topics of importance for preserving the identity and improving the position of our community in the USA, and strengthening ties with the motherland. The discussions will be focused on the areas of economy, education and culture, through the development of projects that involve the preservation of language, cultural customs and traditions, with with a focus on youth programs," reads the Platform adopted by the Government.

Ibrahimović, Minister for the Diaspora Mirsad Azemović, Minister of Mining, Oil and Gas Admir Šahmanović and MPs Kenana Strujić Harbić and Edina Dešić were announced as guests at the event "Open Forum on Homeland", organized today by the Islamic Community and Cultural Center "Plav - Gusinje " in New York

The Board of Directors of the Gusinje Foundation announced last night that it will not attend the cocktail party at the General Consulate of Montenegro in New York, due to the overall political situation in Montenegro:

"This refers first of all to the support given to the current Government of Montenegro by the Bosniak Party and its leader Ervin Ibrahimovic, whose presence is expected tonight".

On their Facebook page, they stated that, "unfortunately, the current government goes against all pro-European views and goes directly to the will of the President of the Assembly Andrija Mandić, who is unfortunately known for his pro-Russian and pro-Serbian views".

"On the other hand, due to the hope that we still remain in good relations with the state of Montenegro, we decided not to deny the welcome to the Minister of Diaspora, Mirsad Ademoviš, to our Donor's Evening".

The platform envisages that Ibrahimović will have separate meetings with representatives of the New York Parliament, with whom he will discuss modalities of cooperation in the coming period.

"The visit of the Vice President and Minister Ibrahimović is of great importance for the preservation and improvement of relations with our diaspora in the United States of America, in order to create policies and modalities for stronger involvement of diaspora associations in the development and implementation of various development strategies of our country," the platform reads.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not answer questions about whether there is a possibility that Ibrahimović's official visit could be used for party purposes and whether the minister's role at the 'Open Forum on the Homeland' event is part of the official agenda of his visit to New York, or whether it is an activity related to party politics BS.

This year, Ibrahimović also visited New York in September, when he participated in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. On that occasion, on the sidelines of the meeting, he had a series of bilateral meetings and participated in a ministerial event on artificial intelligence, hosted by the US Secretary of State. Anthony Blinken.

"Šahmanović on vacation, trip organized under private direction"

Šahmanović did not respond to "Vijesta" yesterday, and the Cabinet of the Ministry of Mining, Oil and Gas subsequently submitted the response this morning.

"The Minister of Mining, Oil and Gas, Admir Šahmanović, is on annual leave by Decision No. 01-106/24-698 dated 20 December 12, and the trip to the USA was organized privately and the costs of travel and accommodation are not borne by the Ministry of Mining, oil and gas," the answer reads.