The Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina (MOBiH), in response to media reactions to the information about the meeting held by the MOBiH delegation with the non-resident military attaché of the Islamic Republic of Iran on May 21, informs the public that this meeting was part of normal and regular diplomatic communication and was carried out in accordance with internal documents that define the treatment of the MOBiH with the military-diplomatic corps.
As announced by the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina (MOBiH), the military attaché of Iran was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and was received by a multi-ethnic delegation of the MOBiH headed by Minister Zukan Helez, which met the criteria of expertise and multi-ethnicity that reflects the character of the MOBiH.
“It is true that the Iranian side proposed the establishment of bilateral defense cooperation and the exchange of high-level visits. However, Minister Helez did not accept any obligations in this regard, and even explicitly emphasized that cooperation would only be possible if substantial progress were made in relations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said.
The misinterpretation of the contents of the aforementioned meeting, which was made public, was the reason for the reaction of the strategic partners – the United States, which was received with the highest degree of seriousness and responsibility by the MoD BiH.
“I absolutely understand this reaction of the US Embassy in BiH as well as the interest of our public, and on this occasion I express my regret and apology to our strategic partners for the way the content of the meeting was conveyed to the public. On the other hand, I perceive the US reaction to the aforementioned omissions and the ways in which they reacted as a well-intentioned and friendly act. I consider this a confirmation of their sincerity, openness and commitment to BiH and its Euro-Atlantic path. The BiH MoD remains firmly committed to the strategic partnership with the US and our Euro-Atlantic path, and we will not take any steps that would call these commitments into question,” stressed BiH Minister of Defense Zukan Helez.
