CVIJANOVIĆ SETS CONDITION: NATO exercise possible, but only if there's also an exercise with the Serbian Army

SARAJevo, (Patria) - Holding a joint exercise with the Serbian Army is a condition set by the BiH Presidency Chairwoman Željka Cvijanović for giving consent to hold an exercise with NATO, Istraga.ba has learned.

We remind you that at the last session of the BiH Presidency, Cvijanović withdrew all materials related to the Armed Forces of BiH from the agenda, including the draft Conclusion that would give consent for the military exercise "IMMEDIATE RESPONSE 2023," which would involve members of the BiH Armed Forces, as well as the armed forces of the USA, Germany, and Croatia. In the meantime, the BiH Presidency Chairwoman informed international officials in BiH that she would, however, give consent for the exercise with NATO, but on the condition that the Presidency gives consent for holding a joint military exercise between the Armed Forces of BiH and the Serbian Army. Therefore, everything now depends on the SDP BiH cadres in BiH institutions. Specifically, if the member of the BiH Presidency Denis Bećirović and the BiH Minister of Defense Zukan Helez agree. The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina will hold an exercise with the Serbian Army.

A joint military exercise between BiH and Serbia was supposed to be held in October 2021. However, the former BiH Minister of Defense Sifet Podžić made the decision to "postpone the exercise.".

"The exercise was postponed exclusively due to the epidemiological situation. A small number of our soldiers are immunized, and I do not want to take the risk of a large number of soldiers getting infected. As soon as the epidemiological situation improves, we will carry out the exercise normally; there is no reason for its cancellation," Minister Podžić stated at the time.

However, the "postponement" effectively meant "cancellation," as the BiH Presidency's decision "expired" during the period of "postponement." This caused reactions from SNSD cadres in BiH institutions. The then-member of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik demanded the dismissal of the BiH Minister of Defense Sifet Podžić. Dodik cited non-compliance with the BiH Constitution as the reason for the dismissal, stating that Podžić had canceled the military exercise between the Serbian Army and the Armed Forces of BiH at Manjača near Banja Luka. According to Dodik's statement, "only the BiH Presidency, which is solely responsible for defense and foreign policy, could cancel the exercise." Regardless of the stances of SNSD cadres, the joint military exercise between BiH and Serbia was not held. Istraga.ba reported at the time that Serbia intended to send members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade and the 72nd Special Operations Brigade to BiH. These two units participated in combat operations in BiH in the early nineties. Special forces from Niš operated in Sarajevo. In addition to the engagement of special forces from Serbia, another "diversion" was planned. Namely, according to Istraga's information, the leaders of Republika Srpska intended to organize three "points" where citizens of that entity would "spontaneously" shower the Serbian Army with flowers. One of these points was to be near Doboj.

Now, Željka Cvijanović intends to revive this idea, effectively making the holding of a joint exercise with NATO conditional on holding an exercise with the Serbian Army. Given that due to Podžić's decision to "postpone," the previous consent of the BiH Presidency for holding this exercise has expired, a new decision would have to be made for the exercise with Serbia. And even if the Presidency decides to hold the exercise, the BiH Minister of Defense Zukan Helez could, following the example of his predecessor Podžić, "postpone its holding."

If the holding of a joint exercise with the Serbian Army is not accepted, the BiH Presidency Chairwoman Željka Cvijanović will propose the adoption of a conclusion imposing a moratorium on all exercises of the Armed Forces of BiH.