The delegation of the Ministry of Defense of BiH is among the first in the world to meet with the highest officials of the Pentagon next week, after the establishment of the new American administration. This was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense of BiH Zukan Helez for “Avaz”, after the details of his several-day visit to the USA were also the focus of the meeting with the US military attaché in BiH, Brigadier Eric R. Adams, on Friday.
“These are bilateral defense consultations between BiH and the USA, which are organized every two or three years. This year it was a little uncertain, because the new American administration came, but the talks have now been definitely confirmed. I expect a meeting at the highest level with representatives of the Pentagon administration and the US Ministry of Defense. I hope also with the Minister of Defense, if due to the situation in the world he will be in Washington at that time,” Helez explained.
Helez’s deputies, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Defense of BiH Edin Fako, as well as the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of BiH Gojko Knežević, are also traveling to the USA. The second delegation will simultaneously visit the American state of Maryland. Helez reveals to “Avaz” the main topics that they will discuss with representatives of the US administration.
“The first point is the security situation in BiH and the surrounding area. One of the topics will be the fight against corruption in BiH and the Balkans, and within the third point we will discuss bilateral military cooperation between BiH and the USA. The third point is very important to us, because the new US administration had suspended programs such as the delivery of helicopters to the Armed Forces of BiH. We managed to restore it and now we will see at what stage it is,” says Helez.
These are six multi-purpose Augusta 119 helicopters, the procurement of which was secured through a program worth 150 million KM, which is mostly financed by the USA. This project is among only 20 percent of those that the US administration has decided to continue. We also asked Helez what he would tell his hosts about the current political and security situation in BiH.
“The US and the US Department of Defense will be informed of all the details regarding the attack on the constitutional and legal order, as well as all the problems in BiH and the region,” says Helez.
Spring session
As part of his several-day visit to the US, Helez will meet with BiH Ambassador Sven Alkalaj on Monday. As a representative of BiH, he will also attend the spring session of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday.
