The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, and the Military Envoy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colonel Franz Josef Nolte, on Thursday, signed a Technical Agreement in Sarajevo based on which the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany grants financial assistance for infrastructure works on several locations of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is an amount of 750,000 euros, which will be spent on four individual projects: replacement of the heating system of the Barracks of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina “Adil Bešić” in Bihać, rehabilitation of four buildings and replacement of the water supply network in the Airport and Barracks “Dubrave” near Tuzla, and the purchase of tools and infrastructure kits.
Minister of Defense Zujan Helez expressed his gratitude for this assistance and pointed out that the partnership between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany is one of the keys to strengthening peace and stability, but also the achievement of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s strategic foreign policy goals, above all full membership in Euro-Atlantic integration.
Germany has launched an initiative to arrange facilities and improve the living and working conditions of members of the Armed Forces of BiH and infrastructure at the locations of the Armed Forces of BiH.
Helez expressed his regret that the facilities of the Armed Forces of BiH in the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska were not among the locations for which the aid was intended.
German Colonel Nolte pointed out that the German Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany consider the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be a unique armed force, and that within the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, efforts are being made to donate funds for the reconstruction of the Barracks of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina “Vojvode Radmir Putnik” in Doboj, which is currently “frozen”, will be enabled in the following period.
Colonel Notle pointed out that this year’s aid of 750,000 euros is only the first step, and that further projects worth 3.5 million euros will follow. He also added that FR Germany gives full support to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to membership in Euro-Atlantic integration.
