SARAJEVO, APRIL 12 (ONASA) – The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, is on a multi-day official visit to Washington, where he has numerous official meetings.
On the first day of his stay, Minister Helez met with the director of the Office for Southern and Central European Affairs in the State Department, Martin McDowell. They talked about the security and political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, as well as the process of establishing the government in our country.
Minister Helez pointed out the importance of continuing the process of integration of BiH into the Euro-Atlantic structures, as a strategic goal, where ultimately all citizens of BiH would have equal chances for a more prosperous life and a safer environment.
“For all well-intentioned people, the United States of America is a strategic partner in the further development of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the achievement of the main goals, for which I am very grateful,” emphasized Minister Helez.
Director McDowell praised the engagement of the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina led by Minister Helez in the implementation of priority activities related primarily to the disposal of surplus weapons, demining processes, implementation of the process of proposing and appointing a new general corps in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also praised the fact that the BiH Council of Ministers was formed and the budget was adopted within the legally stipulated time, as a sign of the new government’s determination for a better tomorrow.
“The USA will keep BiH in the focus of its interest, and we will ask European partners to step up their efforts to help on the road to Euro-Atlantic integration. If the high representative decides to propose new ways of unblocking the formation of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USA will support him in this,” concluded McDowell.
On the same day, Minister Helez met with the Director of Development Programs of the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI), Indrea Sabaliunaite, who introduced him to the successful implementation of the “Sarajevo without Mines” project, which was financed from 2019 to 2021 by the US Government.
She expressed her interest in implementing the “Mine-Free Mostar” project in 2023 in cooperation with the Mine Detection Dog Training Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina (MDDC) and the International Trust Fund (ITF), whose implementation began at the end of 2021. . She asked Minister Helez to help MLI in this project, together with state institutions like BHMAC.
Helez also spoke with representatives of the Bheart organization, which gathers volunteers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who help projects important to the community of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Helez emphasized the importance of this form of engagement of the Bosnian diaspora, pointing out that such associations promote the potential of BiH, strengthening the diaspora’s connection with the homeland, as well as bilateral relations in the field of education, culture, economy and tourism.
The representatives of the BHeart association introduced Minister Helez to the work of this volunteer organization and particularly emphasized the fact that BHeart is multi-ethnic and represents all the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The representatives of BHeart emphasized that in the coming period they will also work on projects to strengthen diaspora ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage and identity of Bosnians and Herzegovina in the USA.
Minister Helez expressed his full support for the efforts that this organization invests in the promotion of true democratic values, especially when it comes to our country.
Minister Helez also visited the Embassy of BiH in Washington, where he met with diplomatic and consular staff and learned about the challenges in the work of this extremely important diplomatic mission for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In addition to Minister Zukan Helez, the meetings were also attended by the head of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense of BiH Salko Beba, the chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of BiH in the USA Emin Čohodarević, the military attaché of BiH in the USA Brigadier Mirko Bošnjak, as well as the liaison officer of BiH with the federal state of Maryland Colonel Admir Jusupović.