Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Minister of Defence of BiH Zukan Helez, together with Assistant Minister for International Cooperation Zoran Sajinovic, Assistant Minister for Finance and Budget Miso Bozickovic, yesterday received the Minister for Reconciliation, Regional Cooperation and Social Stability of the Republic of Serbia, Usame Zukorlic.
Helez welcomed Zukorlic and expressed satisfaction with the continuation of the dialogue. He recalled that the plans for bilateral military cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of BiH and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, foreseen for 2025, had been largely implemented until the incident at the marking of the Day of the 3rd Infantry (Republika Srpska) Regiment of the Armed Forces of BiH (AFBiH).
“Unfortunately, we were forced to suspend further activities after the actions of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, Bratislav Gasic, who interrupted the playing of the anthem of BiH at the ceremony held on May 12th this year at the ‘Kozara’ barracks in Banja Luka. Such behavior was assessed as disrespect for the state and its symbols. Although the Ministry of Defence of BiH sent an official letter to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, Minister Gasic’s response has still not arrived, and the bilateral military cooperation that was interrupted will continue only after an apology from the Government of Serbia for the incident caused by Minister Gasic,” emphasized Helez.
At the meeting, it was pointed out that cadets from BiH are studying at the Military Academy of the Serbian Army, while members of the AFBiH attend the Command and Staff School, the General Staff School, as well as the Advanced Security and Defence Studies. They also participate in training at specialized centers, such as the Centre for Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Defence (CBRN) Centre in Krusevac.
It was also emphasized that on the other hand, members of the Serbian Army attend courses at the Peace Support Operations Training Centre of the AFBiH, along with an active instructor exchange program between the two military institutions. The AFBiH, under the leadership of the Armed Forces of the United States (U.S.) as the activity holders, participate in the military exercise “Platinum Wolf 25,” which is held in the Republic of Serbia.
Helez emphasized that BiH and Serbia still have a number of open issues, among which are the denial of genocide in Srebrenica, the issue of borders, and the hiding of war criminals in Serbia.
Zukorlic expressed satisfaction with the first meeting at the Ministry of Defence of BiH, emphasizing the importance of his role as Minister for Reconciliation, Regional Cooperation, and Social Stability of the Republic of Serbia, a department dealing with one of the most challenging issues of today. He emphasized that reconciliation will surely happen and that Sandzak disproves all those who claim that Serbs and Bosniaks cannot live together.
The joint message of Ministers Helez and Zukorlic clearly emphasized that dialogue is irreplaceable and that reconciliation is a process that requires constant work. A constructive exchange of opinions and readiness for cooperation represents an important step towards strengthening mutual trust and improving relations between the two neighboring countries. At the end of the meeting, Helez thanked Zukorlic for his personal engagement and dedication to this process, emphasizing that such efforts contribute to creating a safer and more prosperous environment, it was stated in the press release from the Public Relations Office of the Ministry of Defence of BiH.
