10.03.2021.
Minister Stefanović meets with Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik in Banja Luka
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, started his two-day visit to Banja Luka today by meeting with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik in Banja Luka.
Minister Stefanović pointed out that this was an important visit and thanked Mr Dodik for his warm welcome.- This is an important visit for us. The thing that President Vučić always points out, and that he pointed out in yesterday's conversation with Mr Dodik, is that Serbia has an interest, that it wants to continue investing heavily in Republika Srpska and strengthening our brotherly relations - Minister Stefanović pointed out.
He added that we were entitled to this, according to the Dayton Agreement, our internal documents and special ties between Serbia and Republika Srpska, but first of all it was something that we felt the need and wanted to do.
During today’s meeting, the Minister of Defence acquainted Mr Dodik with important topics that would be discussed during his two-day visit to Republika Srpska.
- One of the important topics is certainly the capabilities of Republika Srpska’s defence industry. We have already signed some contracts whose value is around 20 million euros, and we have recently signed an engine overhaul contract with "Orao", worth around 3.7 million euros. We will also talk to the management of "Kosmos" about what we can do together to modernize the Overhaul Institute in Pale. We have a number of economic activities in the coming period that will certainly help people in Republika Srpska live better, but that will also help the Serbian Armed Forces be even more efficient and better equipped - Minister Stefanović emphasized.
Stefanović underscored excellent cooperation with Republika Srpska’s Ministry of the Interior and the fact that 6 members of Republika Srpska’ MOI were currently attending the Military Academy, and that the first pilot from Republika Srpska’s Helicopter Unit would soon graduate from the Military Academy.
Depending on the Covid-19 pandemic, our armed forces and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina should conduct a joint exercise in Manjača in October, Stefanović noted. He pointed out that it was also important that Republika Srpska and the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina were putting in a great deal of effort in improving the health situation.
- We must all be better, we must intensify the vaccination and work together in the region to preserve health and improve our citizens’ living conditions - Minister Stefanović pointed out.
The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, thanked Minister Stefanović for his visit to Republika Srpska and for Serbia’s assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also pointed out that during today’s meeting there was talk about plans for future cooperation, including the cooperation in the field of military education and defence industry.
- As a Serbian member of the Presidency and the chairman, I also thanked Mr Stefanović for the fact that our people, who later join the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, also receive education at Serbia’s military schools, and this practice will continue. Today, we discussed expanding our cooperation and the need to provide training for our helicopter pilots, which is what our Ministry of the Interior needs - said Dodik.
When it comes to the defence industry, Dodik points out that cooperation with Serbia is very important because it helps a lot of companies survive.
- I must say that many of our companies, at least the small ones that survived, would not be able to work if it weren’t for the orders made by Serbia and cooperation with Serbia. I am glad that we have confirmed today that we will continue with this type of cooperation and that the most responsible people in the military, headed by the Minister, have just shown their interest in expanding cooperation - said Dodik, adding that he was glad that the delegation representing the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces would visit important companies such as "Kosmos" in Zalužani and "Orao" in Bjeljina during their two-day visit.
He also mentioned the plan for members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to conduct a joint exercise on the Manjača Mountain.
- We have already raised this issue at the Presidency and we have made a general decision in this regard. But the details are still to be agreed on. Given the coronavirus pandemic, as soon as the conditions are created, that exercise will take place here in Manjača and I think it will be a good opportunity to show good cooperation between the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Serbian Armed Forces - Dodik pointed out.The delegation representing the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces that attended today's meeting also included Assistant Minister of Defence for Material Resources Nenad Miloradović, PhD, Commandant of the Military Academy Major General Bojan Zrnić, PhD, and Head of the International Military Cooperation Department Brigadier General Predrag Bandić.
