Helez: I will not approve the use of Serbian MUP helicopters to extinguish fires in BiH, our Armed Forces have better ones

(Patria) - Minister of Defense of BiH Zukan Helez commented today on his Facebook profile regarding the use of helicopters to extinguish fires on the territory of our country.

"The authorities and institutions of the smaller Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity RS continue to insist that helicopters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia extinguish fires on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Honestly, I am surprised by this insistence, that they want the worse helicopters of a neighboring country to extinguish fires on the territory of BiH, while at the same time not wanting the better helicopters of their own country's Armed Forces.

Such conduct is a precedent and probably a unique case in the world.

I note that the helicopters of the Armed Forces of BiH are on standby and currently ready to take off and carry out the fire-fighting mission.

It is obvious that the authorities of the smaller Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity RS are not only interested in extinguishing the fire, but they are misusing the disaster to belittle and devalue the institutions of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I will not approve the use of Serbian MUP helicopters to extinguish fires on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This task can be successfully performed by domestic, competent institutions of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I appeal to the authorities of the smaller Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity RS to stop playing games and initiate the procedure for using the resources of their own country's Armed Forces to extinguish fires, to help the citizens of Gacko and all other citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are multi-ethnic in character, belong to all citizens in our country, and are ready to serve," Helez stated.