MoI MEMBERS DEMONSTRATED THEY CAN RESPOND TO MOST COMPLEX SECURITY CHALLENGES

FOČA, MAY 29 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Minister of Interior Željko Budimir says that today's tactical demonstration exercise Drina 2026 in Foča proved that the Republika Srpska Ministry of Interior /MoI/ has the capacity and trained personnel to respond even to the most complex security and rescue tasks.

Budimir emphasized that today's exercise represents the culmination of training organised by the MoI Training Centre of Republika Srpska together with the Directorate for the Protection of Persons and Facilities, with the assistance of the Gendarmerie and the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit.

"We have proven that we have the capability for such complex tasks, especially in the training of police officers involved in the protection of designated persons," Budimir told the press in Foča.

He stressed that it is important for Republika Srpska to have a police agency capable of responding to various security challenges, particularly due to the increasingly frequent visits of foreign delegations.

Budimir noted that the exercise demonstrated complex evacuation and protection scenarios involving protected persons on a river, emphasizing that members of the Republika Srpska MoI, together with the Aviation Directorate, displayed a high level of training and coordination.

"Few in the region can carry out something like this. What the Republika Srpska Police are doing and will continue doing in the coming period is maintaining maximum professionalism and striving to ensure police standards remain at the highest level," Budimir said, stressing that there is no place within the ranks of the Republika Srpska Police for anyone connected to crime or any kind of grey zone.

Foča Mayor Milan Vukadinović congratulated Minister Budimir, MoI members, rescue units, and all exercise participants for the level of training and professionalism demonstrated.

Vukadinović praised the cooperation between the Republika Srpska MOI and local communities, stressing the importance of continuing the equipping of police, civil protection, and firefighting units.

"I am confident that by rejuvenating these forces we will further improve their work and that in the future our units will be a source of pride for the city of Foča," Vukadinović said.

Today's tactical demonstration exercise involved members of the Republika Srpska MoI, the Republic Civil Protection Administration, the Mountain Rescue Service, the Foča Territorial Firefighting Unit, and the Republika Srpska Aviation Service.