GOGANOVIĆ: ARMY DAY MARKED SOLEMNLY, THERE IS A POLITICAL RATHER THAN SECURITY CRISIS IN BiH

BANJA LUKA, MAY 17 /SRNA/ - Deputy Minister of Defense in the Council of Ministers, Aleksandar Goganović, told SRNA that there is no wrongdoing in marking the Day of the Republika Srpska Army and the Third Infantry /Republika Srpska/ Regiment of the BiH Armed Forces at the "Kozara" barracks in Banja Luka, and added that Bosniak political representatives are trying to turn the political crisis into a security one, but they will not succeed.

Goganović also commented on the criminal complaint filed by the Vice President of Republika Srpska, Ćamil Duraković, against several officials and appointed representatives of Republika Srpska.

"He is not relevant to comment on marking Army Day and the Third Infantry /Republika Srpska/ Regiment of the BiH Armed Forces. I would say that Mr. Duraković has been used by political Sarajevo as an executor of tasks. I have the impression that Mr. Duraković hasn’t even read the Law on Defense," Goganović said on the SRNA podcast.

He reminded that there is also a criminal offense related to false reporting, and in that context, commented on the complaints and announcements of new complaints by Bosniak political representatives, including the Minister of Defense in the Council of Ministers, Zukan Helez.

"I won’t comment on the unserious statements of my colleague Helez. This is already, who knows how many times, that he has filed a criminal complaint against me. When I decide to file a criminal complaint, I will file only one — and there will be no need for a second or third," Goganović said.

He says that the most important thing is that the Day of the Republika Srpska Army and the Third Infantry /Republika Srpska/ Regiment of the BiH Armed Forces was marked with dignity and honor. He reiterated that comments and attacks from Sarajevo are constant, pointing out that there is an intention to overshadow the commemoration of an important date for the Serbian people.

"I can promise the Serbian people that, as long as I am Deputy Minister of Defense, Army Day will be marked honorably. I will work to ensure that other peoples also commemorate their important dates. The Law on Defense allows us to do that. I call on all irresponsible individuals from political Sarajevo to read the Law," Goganović emphasized.

He says that there is also a malicious intent by certain individuals from Sarajevo to try to turn the political crisis into a security one, and that this is why they are constantly calling on international forces stationed in BiH to intervene.

"They have now crossed the red line because they tried to draw the Armed Forces into the political crisis and create a security problem. I call on these irresponsible individuals to also listen to the voice of the international community, which they often cite, and I would point out that even in the UN Security Council, it was stated that it is necessary to open a dialogue," Goganović said on the SRNA podcast.

He pointed out that Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik also called all parliamentary parties at the BiH level for dialogue, and noted that no one responded to the invitation.

"Then they blame us for not wanting to resolve this political crisis. By not attending, they showed that the crisis suits them, as they are trying to use it to portray Republika Srpska as being responsible for all the problems," Goganović said.

Goganović says it is dangerous for the Minister of Defense in the Council of Ministers, Zukan Helez, to act unilaterally without consulting his deputies.

He emphasized that the Serb member of the BiH Presidency, through her decisions, protects all members of the BiH Armed Forces.

"Colleague Helez often tries to make decisions that are detrimental to all members of the Armed Forces. I regret that the situation is like this. I would like us to have a dialogue and try to reach a compromise. I strongly believe in dialogue, but I now understand Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, who says that there is no one to talk to on the other side of the table," Goganović said.

He says that Bosniak political representatives do not want to resolve the political crisis, primarily due to the lack of dialogue with the elected representatives of one of the constituent peoples in BiH.