Helez at NAC meeting: This is the best illustration of NATO's commitment to BiH

(Patria) - Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defence of BiH Zukan Helez participated today in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC-NATO) at the BiH Parliament building.

NAC is the main and highest decision-making political body within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, serving as a forum for consultation and decision-making on issues affecting the security and defence of NATO members.

More than 30 ambassadors decided to hold this year's meeting in our country to include representatives of the BiH Council of Ministers authorities.

Helez addressed the NATO representatives and welcomed them to our country, stating that this visit is the best indicator of NATO's commitment to BiH in a time of great security challenges.

He specifically thanked NATO partners for the support and assistance they provide to the Armed Forces of BiH, both through training and through the Defence Capacity Building (DCB) assistance package initiative.

He took the opportunity to inform the North Atlantic Council about the impossibility of implementing the "BiH Armed Forces Modernization Plan – 2017-2027".

The cause, as he stated, is the long-standing blockade by individuals within the Council of Ministers of BiH, i.e., obstruction of securing the necessary financial resources for approved modernization projects.

Helez asked NATO partners to, if possible, within the DCB assistance package, in addition to the agreed plans, find a way to support the BiH Armed Forces with anti-tank and anti-aircraft assets.

He expressed his satisfaction that he will be hosting the NAC welcome dinner tonight, and that he has a special honour to host them tomorrow at the Rajlovac military location.

- It will be my pleasure to host you tomorrow at the Rajlovac location where we will present a part of the equipment already received within this initiative, as well as the support from the EU, which is also growing - emphasized Helez.

As part of the cooperation program between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NAC and the two-day visit of the North Atlantic Council delegation to our country, Helez will host the NAC delegation tomorrow from 12:15 PM at the BiH Armed Forces location "Rajlovac".