GOGANOVIĆ: HELEZ IS DECEIVING THE PUBLIC, HIS ARBITRARY ACTIONS COULD LEAD TO AMERICAN SANCTIONS

EAST SARAJEVO, JUNE 9 /SRNA/ - Deputy Minister of Defense in the Council of Ministers, Aleksandar Goganović, told SRNA that Defense Minister Zukan Helez misled the public and international partners, stating that the delegation attending the meeting with Iran’s non-resident military attaché was not multi-ethnic, as no one from his /Goganović’s/ office was present.

"Perhaps a change in Helez's behaviour would help, and I call on him to urgently convene a session of the Expert Collegium to critically assess his actions and find the best solution. I am prepared to travel to Washington with associates and Ministry of Defense officials to repair the damage and protect the defense system from a possible breakdown in military-bilateral cooperation between BiH and the United States," Goganović stressed.

He added that instead of offering apologies, Helez should start working in accordance with the Law on Defense and respect the views of the relevant sectors within the defense system, specifically their analyses and assessments.

“If all of that had been respected, such missteps by colleague Helez would not have occurred. Since the beginning of his term, I have warned about Helez’s arbitrariness and arrogance. He ignored my well-intentioned advice, and potential U.S. sanctions are the result,” Goganović stated.

Goganović believes that, unfortunately, the damage has already been done and will be very difficult to repair.

“It is well known that Iran is one of the leading countries in drone production, and colleague Helez has long spoken about producing drones, but he refuses to disclose who is manufacturing them and who is involved. I truly hope that colleague Helez is not involved in all of this, because if he is, U.S. sanctions will be the least of his problems compared to the BiH Special Prosecutor’s Office,” Goganović stated.

The Ministry of Defense in the Council of Ministers stated today that the meeting between its delegation and the non-resident Iranian military attaché, held on May 21, was part of regular diplomatic communication. The Ministry expressed regret and extended an apology to its strategic partner, the United States, "for the way the content of the meeting was presented to the public."

“The Iranian military attaché was accompanied by the Iranian ambassador and was received by a multiethnic delegation of the Ministry of Defense headed by Minister Helez, thereby meeting the standards of professionalism and multiethnicity that reflect the character of the Ministry,” says a press release.

The press release adds that, "taking into account geopolitical circumstances and commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration, the Ministry of Defense has not to date established any form of defense cooperation with Iran, nor was any kind of future defense cooperation discussed at this meeting."

“The misinterpretation of the meeting’s content, as published in the media, prompted a response from our strategic partner, the United States. I fully understand the reaction of the U.S. Embassy in BiH, as well as public interest, and I take this opportunity to express regret and apologize to our strategic partners for the way the meeting’s content was presented to the public,” Helez said in the press release.