Nikšić: Claims that weapons used in Kosovo were bought in Tuzla are false

(Patria) - Prime Minister of FBiH and SDP leader Nermin Nikšić reacted after allegations by some Serbian officials and services that weapons used and found in northern Kosovo were purchased in Tuzla.

"I want to say loudly and clearly that these claims are false, and as such, they could not be supported by any evidence.

I understand that Serbia has been under great pressure and condemnation from democratic countries in recent days, but that does not mean they can look for an alibi for their actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Nikšić said.

He pointed out that Serbia cannot seek responsibility from this side of the border for arming, training paramilitary formations and groups of Serbian citizens and local officials who caused the armed conflict in northern Kosovo.

"Serbia's intelligence services and its political leadership have obviously, unfortunately, devised a plan to shift some of the responsibility for the terrorist attack to the neighboring country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Given the political situation here, they probably assessed that there would be no adequate, swift, and accurate reaction based on facts. They underestimated us again," Nikšić stated.

He then highlighted the facts that indicate the following:

"The weapons found by the Kosovo police are not produced in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

- the Kosovo police have publicly displayed the serial numbers of mortar shells and other types of ammunition produced in Serbian factories Sloboda, Krušik, etc.;

- according to our country's laws, when exporting weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment, down to individual cartridges, to any other country, the strictest procedures according to NATO standards and in cooperation with NATO are carried out.

An "end user" certificate and permits from four state ministries (Ministries of Defense, Security, Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Trade and Economic Relations) are required, as well as confirmations from competent police administrations regarding the names of drivers, license plates of vehicles used for transport, routes, etc.

Of course, all objective information indicates that Serbian services have disseminated false information. They miscalculated if they thought such a deception would go unnoticed.

We call on Serbia to transparently investigate the real causes and publicly reveal the real organizers and masterminds of the terrorist attack, because we know that they know who is actually involved."