Mektić: Croatian media invented the SIPA report, the director of SOA should speak publicly

Minister of Security of BiH Dragan Mektić said today that he publicly calls on the director of the Croatian intelligence service, Daniel Markić, to respond and explain where they got the information that was published yesterday by Večernji list, stating that BiH is a hotbed of extremists, reports the Patria News Agency.

- All of us in BiH, from the media to all security agencies, should work on the prevention, suppression, and prosecution of all forms of extremism and everything that has the characteristics of terrorism - said Mektić.

Mektić stated that the article in Večernji list claims that "SIPA confirmed in its dramatic report what the Croatian security service (SOA) has been pointing out, that BiH is a Wahhabi hotbed..."

Mektić denied the existence of such a SIPA report.

- SIPA did not prepare such a report, nor did it prepare it under such a title. Whether Večernji list or the Croatian intelligence service invented it is their matter to agree on and explain. I don't think it's fair to convey information in such a way - said Mektić.

He emphasized that BiH and Croatia are partners in the joint fight against terrorism and extremism, and that it would be fair to exchange such information. Mektić said that he had previously spoken with colleagues from Croatia in Sarajevo, and there was no mention of such a report.

- This is an invented story about the SIPA report - added Mektić.

Minister Mektić pointed out that it is not fair for Croatian media to publish such articles before the upcoming holidays and the winter season, and he gave an example of what would happen if such claims were published from BiH before the summer season in Croatia.

Mektić again spoke about the high-profile cases and scandals being handled by the BiH Prosecutor's Office (Pandora, Milbauer), which have caused billions of convertible marks in damage to BiH. He called on the HJPC to seriously address the situation in the BiH judiciary.

- We have judges who have fled the country due to criminal activities, we have judges against whom serious criminal proceedings are underway, we have prosecutors in custody - said Mektić.