Dačić: Our police officers are in Croatia and Montenegro, if BiH doesn't want it, we don't have to cooperate either

(Patria) - Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić stated today that Serbia has maintained police cooperation with countries in the region for over ten years during the tourist season, which raises the question of how and why this bothers some in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) only.

"Regarding manipulations and malicious interpretations in BiH, I will remind you that within the framework of regional police cooperation, countries in the region have been cooperating for over 10 years during the tourist season. Cooperation with Croatia has existed since 2010, so at this moment, two of our police officers from the criminal police are in Croatia, in Rijeka and Pula," Dačić stated in a written statement, as announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP).

Cooperation with Montenegro has existed since 2012 and is extended every year, which was done in May, so there are currently six police officers from Serbia in Montenegro - two each in Bar, Budva, and Herceg Novi, one from the criminal police and one with general jurisdiction, Dačić stated.

Dačić added that a similar agreement with Italy is in preparation, just as police officers from other countries participate in various projects and activities in Serbia.

"How and why does this bother some in BiH only? Let me remind you, it is the same principle as in Montenegro and Croatia, two police officers each, one criminal and the other general jurisdiction, in Banja Luka, Trebinje, and Foča. They all stay everywhere until September 1, and everything is done in accordance with international standards of police cooperation," Dačić stated.

Dačić emphasized that the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs is ready to cooperate "with everyone in BiH" in the area of policing.

"If this is a problem for BiH, which is not a problem for Croatia for 14 years and Montenegro for 12 years, then we don't have to send anyone or have any police cooperation," Dačić stated, as stated in the announcement.