A presentation of the newly acquired specialized transporters of the Police Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Tuzla Canton took place today.
The total value of the four conveyors is 4.4 million BAM, and two were presented today, while the remaining two will soon be delivered to Tuzla.
The ceremony was also attended by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić, who lined up the members of the Support Unit of the Police Administration of the MUP of TC.
“The first thing I can say is that they probably never should have be bought. Unfortunately, the place and time in which we live justifies the purpose of procuring such vehicles and equipping the Support Unit in the event that, first of all, the citizens of the canton need assistance, but we have to look at it more broadly, and say the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I want to praise the ambition and intention of the Government of Tuzla Canton to realize this, because this is the first time that the Government of TC procures this kind of specialist equipment. No one else will take care of our safety and this shows what is happening in the world. We need to wake up and come to our senses because no one will fight for this country if we don’t want to. There is always someone who says that we could have used the money better. Money can always be put to better use, but we use it in relation to the situation in which we find ourselves. The situation is such that we need this,” said chairman Komšić, who then received all relevant information about the vehicle’s capabilities and equipment in one of the armored personnel carriers.
The task of procuring four armored personnel carriers was presented by the Government of TC headed by Irfan Halilagić, who said at today’s presentation that the Government’s determination is that this is really necessary.
“We are the first canton to buy such vehicles and this symbolizes the determination of the Government of TC and the Assembly of TC to strengthen our security structures. I believe that we will continue in that direction. We realized a procurement that is complex, that is international in nature, and I underline that these vehicles will be used to protect the safety of citizens and their property,” said Prime Minister Halilagić.
Cantonal Minister of Internal Affairs Hajrudin Mehanović also spoke about the procurement of the so-called “long pipes”, i.e. equipment used by police officers in BiH according to the current law.
“The purchase of four armored personnel carriers amounted to 4.4 million BAM without VAT, so somewhere around 5 million BAM. We were the first to start these procedures and we ended them. The vehicles provide greater security to police officers because up to the 7.62 mm caliber the crew and officers are absolutely safe. Tires that have been hit by eight bullets can go another 100 kilometers…We bought the vehicles with our own funds, and all the previous ones were donations, and we are proud of that,” said Minister Mehanović.
Newly acquired vehicles for the needs of the officers of the Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Tuzla Canton were presented, and in the coming period it is planned to strengthen the police structures with the aim of greater protection and security of the citizens of the Tuzla Canton, Fena reports.
Photo: Fena/Edin Skokic
