Slovakia strongly supports BiH on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration

(Patria) - Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zukan Helez, with deputies Slaven Galić and Aleksandar Goganović, today received the Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic, Robert Kaliňák, on an official visit.

The meeting discussed strengthening bilateral military cooperation between BiH and Slovakia, as well as opportunities for joint economic projects, especially concerning cooperation between the military industries of both countries.

Helez emphasized that Slovakia, along with Austria and Croatia, is among the strongest advocates for Bosnia and Herzegovina's admission to full membership in the European Union.

Photo: Patria

He expressed his belief that by the end of the year, BiH could take even more significant steps towards fulfilling the 14 prerequisites for BiH's candidate status in the EU.

He thanked his guest for Slovakia being the first NATO member state to provide concrete assistance of 20,000 euros for the Armed Forces of BiH within the framework of the Defence Capacity Building (DCB) package.

In his address, Slovak Minister Kaliňák stated that although BiH and Slovakia are not neighboring countries, due to cultural, historical, and linguistic similarities, he considers Bosnia and Herzegovina a "good neighbor".

He emphasized that his country strongly supports BiH on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration and offered all of Slovakia's assistance in this regard.

He added that it would be unfair for BiH to lag behind some countries on the path to full membership in the European Union, such as Ukraine, for which there is an initiative to admit it as soon as possible.
Photo: Patria

Kaliňák expressed his conviction that the military cooperation between the two countries should be strengthened and showed particular interest in cooperation opportunities in the field of military industry, especially concerning large-caliber weapons and ammunition, which was also supported by Minister Helez.

Deputy Minister of Defence of BiH for Policy and Plans, Slaven Galić, thanked the Slovak minister for Slovakia's 20 years of presence with soldiers in EUFOR, thereby contributing to peace and stability in the entire region, as well as for joint training with the Armed Forces of BiH.

Deputy Minister of Defence of BiH for Resource Management, Aleksandar Goganović, emphasized on this occasion that this visit shows that BiH has a sincere friend in Slovakia, who can share its best practices of EU membership with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Photo: Patria

He stressed that there is no political consensus in BiH for accession to full NATO membership, but he welcomed the good cooperation with this alliance.

The meeting was also attended by Assistant Ministers of Defence of BiH Zoran Šajinović and Dženan Redžo, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, Lieutenant General Ľubomír Svoboda, Commander of the Tactical Support Brigade of the BiH Armed Forces, Brigadier Jasmin Čajić, Military Attaché of the Slovak Republic to BiH, Colonel Milan Skrutek Mindek, heads of cabinet of the Minister of Defence and Deputy Minister of Defence of BiH, and other associates.