Helez announces formation of reserve component of BiH Armed Forces

(Patria) - The Bill on Amendments to the Law on Police and Internal Affairs, adopted yesterday by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska (NSRS), which introduces a reserve component of the RS police, is unconstitutional and contrary to the Dayton Peace Agreement, assesses the Minister of Defence of BiH Zukan Helez.

By introducing a reserve component of the RS police, Helez notes, security conditions in BiH are further destabilized, fears are awakened, a climate of distrust is created, and the crisis is deepened.

He recalled that the international community, specifically the IPTF, disbanded the reserve component of the entity police in 2002 and prohibited its reactivation.

- The regime in the smaller Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity is taking us back two decades with this decision. Otherwise, Dodik's regime increasingly resembles the rule of war criminals Karadžić and Mladić.

What is in the mind of the deranged Dodik and what are his intentions are questions for psychiatric experts, as well as for the High Representative in BiH and the OHR.

I call on the international community to react urgently in accordance with its decision from 2002 and annul the controversial law introducing the reserve component of the RS police - says Helez.

He notes that the Ministry of Defence of BiH and the Armed Forces of BiH are currently completing processes that will enable the formation of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of BiH.

- The formation of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of BiH is a process supported by the NATO Headquarters in BiH and our country's international partners in accordance with the Constitution of BiH and the laws of our country, and is fully in line with NATO standards - emphasizes Helez.

He explains that the reserve component of the Armed Forces of BiH, by decision of the Presidency of BiH, can consist of up to 5,000 reservists.

- The Armed Forces of BiH belong to everyone. By establishing a reserve component of the Armed Forces of BiH, we are strengthening the capacities of our armed forces to be as prepared as possible to perform legally defined tasks, primarily their primary role, which is the protection of the statehood, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of BiH - concluded Helez.