Minister Helez finally realised Smajić was right: BiH must have full control of its skies

(Patria) - Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zukan Helez stated during his last visit to the Republic of Bulgaria that Bosnia and Herzegovina must have full control of the skies above the entire country.

Minister Helez's statement was responded to by delegate (SBiH) in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH Džemal Smajić, who warned as early as the end of last year that the issue of control over BiH's skies and the fight for the protection of BiH's sovereignty in its airspace has been ongoing for three decades.

According to his words, since 2019, the implementation of a plan to completely hand over control of BiH's skies to Belgrade and Zagreb has begun.

Helez, incidentally, commented in November 2023 on the then allegations of delegate Smajić, saying that this was not true and that “for the first time in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina we have surveillance of BiH's skies,” claiming that this can be seen in the Ministry of Defence, in the Centre, where the sky is fully monitored.

"When a year ago I warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina must control its skies, which are currently controlled partly from Belgrade and partly from Zagreb, Minister of Defence Zukan Helez misled the public and said that I was not telling the truth and that BiH fully controls its skies. A few days ago, when I read that Helez finally realised that I was right and repeated what I told him last year, hope was rekindled that things could move in a positive direction," said Smajić.