GOGANOVIĆ: HELEZ WANTS TO BAN SERBS FROM CELEBRATING THEIR PATRON SAINT - I WILL NOT ALLOW IT

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, DECEMBER 3 /SRNA/ – Aleksandar Goganović, Deputy Minister of Defence in the Council of Ministers, told SRNA that Defence Minister Zukan Helez's intention to deny employees of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of BiH the right to paid leave on the occasion of their patron saint's day constitutes "a direct attack on religious freedoms, particularly those of Orthodox members of the defence system".

"It appears Helez wants to ban Serbs even from celebrating their patron saint's day. This is unacceptable and illegal. As long as there is no BiH-level law on public holidays, it is clear that entity regulations of the employee's place of residence apply. Any action contrary to this represents a violation of the law and of the Council of Ministers' decisions,” Goganović stated.

He reminded that the law distinguishes between non-working days for religious holidays and individual religious needs such as patron saint's day, for which the right to paid leave is guaranteed under the Law on Labor in BiH Institutions and the Law on Service in the Armed Forces of BiH.

"A political whim cannot stand above the law. No one will forbid Serbs from celebrating their patron saint's day, least of all Helez, and I will never allow it," Goganović said.

He announced that he will formally inform the Parliamentary Military Commissioner, the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, and the Serb member of the BiH Presidency about this violation of the law.