Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Minister of Defence Zukan Helez, together with Deputy Minister of Defence of BiH Aleksandar Goganović, today received on an official visit the Minister for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Lord Vernon Rodney Coaker.
The meeting, which was also attended by the UK Ambassador to BiH Julian Reilley, discussed activities in the field of bilateral military cooperation between the United Kingdom and BiH, and also discussed the security situation in the region and the world.
Helez stressed the importance of the United Kingdom as one of BiH’s key partners, which has been providing assistance in the development of the Armed Forces of BiH and BiH’s path towards full membership in NATO.
The project to strengthen the defence capacities of BiH and the modernisation of the Armed Forces of BiH was discussed. Mutual satisfaction was expressed with the UK’s support for officer training, infrastructure projects to improve living and working conditions at training grounds and barracks, raising the level of training, promoting the military profession and gender equality in the MoD and AF BiH. Also, within the framework of cooperation with the UK, a new training model in the field of human security is being established in the training centers of the AF BiH.
Key aspects of cooperation in the coming period have been specified in five areas: implementation of the Defense Review document, development of interoperability and social responsibility and resilience to hybrid threats, development of a forecasting and early warning system for possible risks and threats, development of an analytical function in the MoD and AF BiH, as well as cooperation in the field of programming, planning, budgeting and execution, and processes related to recruitment and retention.
– Although the BiH Presidency once adopted the Plan for the Modernization of the AF BiH from 2017 to 2027, according to which the Council of Ministers of BiH was to allocate around 500 million euros for this purpose, this did not happen due to internal blockages in state institutions. On the other hand, our neighbors are actively arming themselves. Such a situation brings unrest to our region and we must bear that in mind – Helez emphasized.
Deputy Minister Goganović emphasized that the path to EU membership must have no alternative and that regional cooperation should be expanded as a means of developing friendly relations in the region.
– We are pleased with the continuation of the EUFOR mission, which is an important factor in security in BiH. This is a time of turbulent international relations, but also conflicts in the world. However, the citizens of BiH know best what war is and will always be committed to peace – concluded Goganović.
Lord Coaker and Reilley emphasized in their statements that the Government of the United Kingdom will continue to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in its efforts to build a safe, stable and inclusive society. They especially emphasized that the MoD and the Armed Forces of BiH are one of the most positive examples of working together for the betterment of the entire society in BiH.
– We will continue to stand by you and assist in your strategic aspirations. The stability of BiH is very important to us and we will continue to assist in the development of your defense capacities and capabilities – Lord Coaker stated, according to a statement from the Public Relations Office of the BiH Ministry of Defense.
