SARAJEVO, August 28 (FENA) – The Embassy of the United States in BiH appeals to officials in Banja Luka to be transparent and provide relevant information about the contract with the Chinese company Elinc so that the residents of RS understand how their tax money is spent.

The Government of Republika Srpska in June signed a contract with the Chinese company Elinc for the procurement of software for digital protection in all institutions, even though it is a company that is on the US sanctions list.

The Public Relations Office of the US Embassy told FENA that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department has sanctioned China Electronics Corporation (CEC), the parent company of ELINC, for activities in the defense sector and related branches of the Chinese economy related to military materials and equipment.

They point out that there are inherent risks to national security, sovereignty and operability arising from cooperation with unreliable suppliers, especially those operating in countries without adequate legal protection for buyers and consumers.

”The unclear nature of this contract, including its conclusion outside of normal public procurement, raises serious questions about the services provided, the potential risks for the residents of the RS, and the reason why the Government of the RS chose a company that is known to be part of the military-industrial complex of the People’s Republic of China, instead of those with a better reputation. We appeal to the officials in Banja Luka to be transparent and provide relevant information about this contract so that the residents of the RS understand how their tax money is spent,” the Public Relations Office of the US Embassy told FENA.