Izvor: N1 televizija, 20.Jun.2018, 15:57 (ažurirano 02.Apr.2020.)
Serbia's aid to RS defence industry draws criticism
Monday’s statement by Serbia’s Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin that his country will provide 7.2 million Euro to the defence industry in the Republika Srpska has been criticized even by some Bosnian Serb politicians.
"In accordance with the orders from the Supreme Commander of the Army of Serbia and agreement with RS President Milorad Dodik, Serbia’s Ministry of Defence has secured 850 million Dinar (7.2 million Euro) for various needs of the companies of the RS defence >> Pročitaj celu vest na sajtu N1 televizija << industry, that is, for the restoration of tank and aircraft engines," Serbia’s Minister Aleksandar Vulin told reporters after meeting with Milorad Dodik.
According to the Speaker of Bosnia’s House of Representatives, Bosnian Serb politician Mladen Bosic, this is all just part of an election campaign for the upcoming October general election.
"It is creating an atmosphere of danger, an atmosphere which carries the sound of possible war-like conflicts in these areas and it is a political game. It has to do with the election and with the positioning of political parties," Bosic said, adding that "it is clear that this is Dodik’s field and a condition for conflict to be created."
Parliament of BiH Federation MP Dennis Gratz, said the statements from Vulin and Dodik are an attack on the territorial sovereignty and integrity of Bosnia.
"It shows that whoever is in power in Serbia, there are always people like Vulin who will use every possible opportunity to continue the conflict using other means such as diplomacy or attempts to undermine the system (in Bosnia)," he said.
The head of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) MP group Ismet Osmanovic, said he does not understand what is meant by the term "defence industry".
"Industry is industry. The military industry is a special type of industrial production strictly tied to the laws of every country, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. As long as this type of industry and industrial production is happening according to the laws and rules in place, it is fine," he said.
Republika Srpska parliament MP Admir Cavka, said that this kind of "incendiary rhetoric" can be harmful for post-war returnees to RS territory, and that it can produce more tensions.
"Everything that has to do with arms concerns us and those are sensitive topics, but there are other institutions that do their job and they should do it and we should trust them. We want to live a normal life, not one filled with topics that take us 30 years back," he said.
The Office of the High Representative, Bosnia’s top official overseeing the implementation of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, the EU Delegation to Bosnia and the US Embassy told N1 that all issues regarding the defence industry must be assessed by the state government and that it should react to any potential illegal activities.
