Radončić with Lukač: Establishing normal cooperation between RS MoI and BiH Ministry of Security

BANJA LUKA, (Patria) - A meeting was held in Banja Luka between the Minister of Internal Affairs of RS Dragan Lukač and the Minister of Security of BiH Fahrudin Radončić, and the topic was the migrant crisis.  

Minister Lukač stated that all police agencies and ministries must cooperate on this issue.

"We are of the opinion that the capacities of the Border Police must be strengthened so that they can protect the border. The 650-kilometer border with Serbia and Montenegro is difficult to protect with the current number of Border Police officers. We are prepared to allocate additional funds," Lukač stated.

He emphasized that all resources of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the RS Police will be put into function for the protection of citizens.

He added that the RS Government and the National Assembly of RS have adopted conclusions stating that they do not agree with Frontex deploying to the borders of BiH, as this would turn BiH into a parking lot for migrants and lead to major security problems.

Radončić emphasized that today's meeting served the purpose of establishing normal cooperation between the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Security of BiH.

"We need to find budgets. We have initiated projects with the European Commission to secure funds for 400 new border police officers, who must be trained," Radončić stated.

We agree, Radončić emphasized, that BiH should not be a parking lot for migrants and that the EU, especially now after the major Greek-Turkish dispute, should respond and jointly protect not only its borders but also those of all other countries so that migrants do not head towards Serbia, Montenegro, and BiH, get stuck in Croatia, and we are left with the problem of hundreds of thousands of migrants here.

Regarding the RS decision not to establish migrant centers on its territory, Radončić stated that he expects solidarity.

Radončić will also visit Tuzla tomorrow, where he will talk with city authorities. 

He added that they have harmonized positions regarding BiH's cooperation with Europol, so that the work of the liaison officer can begin.