The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, responded to the statement of the entity President Milorad Dodik to the Belgrade-based Večernje Novosti, that young men from Republika Srpska should serve in the army in Serbia and then return.
Helez said that Dodik is directly attacking the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the umpteenth time.
“This is a continuation of his policy of attacking state institutions: the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Public Broadcasting Company RTVBiH, and especially the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and other institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina that are symbols of our country.”
The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina also cited an article of the law that explicitly prohibits the military service of BiH citizens in other countries
“With his statements in which he directly agitates for BiH citizens from the RS entity to serve in the military service in Serbia, he violates the Law on Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Article 51 (Prohibition of the engagement of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina), citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose residence is in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including those with dual citizenship, are prohibited from serving in the military service and training as recruits in the armed forces of other countries.”
Helez emphasized that any incitement and encouragement of conduct that is contrary to the provisions of the relevant article of the law can be linked to a violation of Article 162b of the Criminal Code of BiH, which specifies that anyone who publicly, through the media, distributes or in any other way sends a message to the public, which is intended to incite another to commit this criminal offense, will be punished with a prison sentence.
“In accordance with the aforementioned legal regulations, I call on the judicial authorities of BiH, especially the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, to investigate the statements of the president of the smaller Bosnian and Herzegovina entity RS, Milorad Dodik, in which he agitates that BiH citizens from the RS entity serve military service in Serbia.”
Let us also recall that Milorad Dodik also said that these persons who complete their training in Serbia should be employed more quickly or receive other privileges.
Dodik responded to a question about Serbia’s decision to reintroduce military service. Through certain solutions, we will stimulate our boys to go to Serbia, serve their military service and return, Dodik said.
