SARAJEVO, APRIL 13 (ONASA) – The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, continued his intensive activities as part of his official visit to Washington, United States of America.
On the second day of his stay, Minister of Defense Helez met at the White House with the National Security Council coordinator for defense policy and arms control, Cara Abercrombie.
Minister Helez informed the interlocutor about the current political and security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, current events in the defense department, and about the negative Russian influence on the collective security of BiH and beyond.
“It is encouraging that the Republic of Serbia is organizing a military exercise with NATO forces on its territory, but it is also a bad message that the Presidency of BiH did not give consent to hold the exercise “Immediate Response-23” at the military training ground of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Manjaca, in the second half of May this year. years. “Also, the fact that the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH does not prosecute those responsible for denying the genocide in Srebrenica is discouraging, which results in general insecurity and the departure of young people from the country,” emphasized Minister Helez.
National Security Council Coordinator Cara Abercrombie emphasized the firm commitment of the US Government to support BiH on its way to the EU and NATO. “We will support all reform processes in the MoD and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we welcome the agreed proposal for the structure of the new general corps. “I will forward to the Pentagon for consideration the initiative to increase the presence of American forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” she emphasized.
On the same day, Minister Helez met at the State Department with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Stan Brown, with whom he exchanged opinions on the current political and security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the blockages of certain members of the collective head of state on our path to Euro-Atlantic integration.
Brown congratulated the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the formation of the new Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the quick adoption of the budget. He expressed his concern that the Republika Srpska entity is trying to introduce a Russian type of government, as well as shutting down free and independent media.
Brown positively evaluated the realized project “Sarajevo without mines” and asked for support for a new project called “Mostar without mines” nominated by the Marshal Legacy Institute Foundation.
“The US government is ready to support the strengthening of the state institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through new projects for their equipment, which will soon be considered by the Congress. “We will continue to support the process of dealing with surplus weapons and explosive ordnance,” Brown said.
Finally, Brown emphasized the full support of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in reaching NATO standards and achieving the strategic goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for which Minister Helez thanked.
At the end of the day, the Minister of Defense of BiH had an extremely useful visit to the Pentagon and a meeting with dr. COLIN Kahl, undersecretary of the Department of Defense for US policy, the highest-ranking official of the US administration with whom Minister Helez met.
Minister Helez and dr. Kahl with the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is largely conditioned by the influence of Russian aggression on Ukraine.
Kahl emphasized the firm commitment of the US Government to support the preservation of sovereignty, territorial integrity and uniqueness of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressing that he has devoted his entire career to security issues in the Balkans, and therefore Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Referring to President Biden’s statement that the future and stability of the Balkans depend on NATO, Kahl emphasized: “The US government and the Pentagon continue to consider all options regarding increased support to BiH, especially the implementation of reforms in the area of justice and the rule of law.” Our commitment is to intensify support and expand the level of cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO, and we will ask European partners to increase their military presence in the ALTEA mission.”
Minister Helez sincerely thanked for the support that the US Government selflessly provides to our country with the words: “I am happy that our American partners and friends are committed even more and stronger to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on the way to Euro-Atlantic integration and that new modalities of enlargement have been agreed cooperation in the field of defense”, announced the BiHMoD.