SARAJEVO, DECEMBER 4 (ONASA) – Deputy Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense Zukan Helez, together with his deputies Slaven Galić and Aleksandar Goganović, today received the Austrian Minister of Defense Klaudia Tanner for an official visit.
The delegation of the Republic of Austria included the country’s ambassador to BiH Ulrike Hartmann, the chief of staff of the Minister of Defense Major General Friedrich Schrötter, the adjutant of Minister Tanner, Brigadier General Martin Selzer, the military attaché of this country in BiH, Brigadier Erich Simbürger and other members of the delegation.
The interlocutor exchanged opinions on the current political and security situation in BiH and concluded that the recent extension of the mandate of the Althea EUFOR mission in BiH in a time of heightened security challenges is of extreme importance for preserving a safe and stable environment in our country.
At the meeting, the members of the BiH Ministry of Defense delegation thanked Minister Tanner for the overall support and assistance that the Republic of Austria provides to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the way to EU integration, as well as through numerous projects, the most important of which are the education of our cadets at the prestigious Teresian Military Academy of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Austria.
They praised the contribution to the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where R. Austria plays a leading role, as well as the country’s significant assistance in training members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, dealing with surplus weapons and ammunition and other important forms of assistance.
Minister Helez informed Minister Tanner about the most significant activities of the MoD and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an emphasis on the issue of development and modernization of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the disposal of surplus weapons and ammunition, the disposal of unpromising military assets, as well as the importance of the NATO “Support Package for Strengthening the Defense and Security Capacities of Bosnia and Herzegovina” ” (DCB) which was approved at the NATO Summit in Madrid last year, the implementation of which has begun and the results of which are already visible and useful in many ways for the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The meeting discussed the progress of our country on the Euro-Atlantic path, especially in light of the announced meeting of the delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Brussels with the highest officials of the European Union, where they will discuss the progress of our country in fulfilling the set conditions and priorities, which could be a good sign for the opening negotiations for the membership of our country in this association.
The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Austria praised the efforts and activities carried out by the MoD and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and said that the Republic of Austria will remain committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future, not only because of our shared history and friendly relations, but also because of the security challenges that we all face together. .
“That is why the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region of the Western Balkans into the European Union is an important priority of the Republic of Austria,” said Minister Tanner during a meeting with the delegation of the MoD and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the end, it was concluded that the current level of bilateral defense cooperation is at an enviable level and that it will be continued in the coming period for mutual benefit and satisfaction.
In addition to the minister and deputy, the BiH Ministry of Defense delegation included the deputy chief of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Major General Gojko Knežević, the minister’s military adviser, Brigadier Muhamed Dautović, the minister’s chief of staff, Salko Beba, and the desk officer for cooperation with the Republic of Austria, Violeta Kuljanin.