The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sifet Podzic, received the Deputy Commander of the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, Turkish Brigadier General Baris Akbaş. The meeting was also attended by the Commander of the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Brigadier General Pamela McGaha, and the Political and Military Adviser of the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Christian Haupt.
Minister Podzic welcomed Brigadier Akbas and success in his new duty, emphasizing that NATO integration is a key strategy of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of BiH. In addition, he stressed the importance of the advisory role of the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, as well as gratitude to the Republic of Turkey for its wholehearted assistance to our country.
The topics of the meeting were the main activities of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces, and special attention was paid to the military exercise OCC-NEL2 (light infantry battalion group), as well as the summer demining campaign. Also, Minister Podzic informed Brigadier Akbas about the numerous challenges in the work caused by recent political circumstances, such as the implementation of tasks from the “BiH Reform Program”, temporary funding and the issue of BiH Armed Forces personnel.
They also talked about the process of destroying surplus ammunition and mines, participating in peace support operations, as well as the process of marking small arms and light weapons, in order to ensure a stable environment.
Brigadier Akbas expressed satisfaction that he will have the opportunity to cooperate with the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of BiH, believing that cooperation with the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo will continue to be of mutual benefit in the direction of fulfilling common goals. In addition, he said the goal is to show BiH citizens that the two sides are working on their security and future.
The delegation of the Ministry of Defense was also attended by the head of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense Kemal Korjenic and the Assistant Minister of Defense for International Cooperation Zoran Sajinovic.
