Tested for Covid-19: BiH Armed Forces Cadets Return to Training in Austria

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - In the new extraordinary global situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), cadets of the Armed Forces of BiH undergoing education abroad and in Bosnia and Herzegovina are in good health.

Currently abroad are cadets at military academies of the Republic of Greece, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Italy, Federal Republic of Germany, United States of America, as well as two cadets who remained at the Military Academy of the Republic of Serbia, and cadets from R. Turkey arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina on April 28, 2020.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina are cadets undergoing education in R. North Macedonia, R. Serbia, and cadets undergoing education in R. Austria, whose return to R. Austria is planned for May 2, 2020.

A female cadet who was studying in Great Britain has completed her studies, and after completing the mandatory quarantine, she is in good health and at home. A contract for admission to professional military service in the initial rank of second lieutenant will be signed with her.

At the proposal of the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in full cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of R. Turkey and the BiH Military Attaché in R. Turkey, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at its 14th extraordinary, telephone session held on April 21, 2020, made a Decision approving the repatriation of 71 cadets, 1 professional military person of the BiH Armed Forces undergoing education in the Republic of Turkey and 2 parents of cadets in R. Turkey, a total of 74 persons. The return was realized on the Istanbul-Sarajevo route on April 28, 2020, arriving at Sarajevo International Airport in the afternoon.

All 74 persons, after completing the mandatory procedures prescribed by the orders and instructions issued by the competent authorities of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, related to entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as adherence to all protective measures related to preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection, were sent to fifteen-day home self-isolation, based on issued Decisions. These cadets are enabled to attend classes via an online platform.

Based on the official letter from the Embassy of the Republic of Austria, on May 4, 2020, international training of cadets at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt and Vienna will continue. The BiH Ministry of Defence has informed all cadets about the continuation of their education, organized transportation to R. Austria, and conducted COVID-19 testing for all cadets.

On April 29, 2020, cadets were tested for COVID-19 at Rajlovac barracks, as well as two drivers from the BiH Armed Forces who will transport them to the Austrian border. The cadets are returning to Austria on May 2, 2020, departing at 07:00 AM from in front of the BiH Ministry of Defence building in Sarajevo.

We take this opportunity to thank the employees of the Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton for their cooperation and professionalism.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina expresses its gratitude for the assistance and cooperation to: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, the Ministry of Security of BiH, the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH, the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, JP „Sarajevo International Airport“ LLC Sarajevo, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Public Health Institute of Sarajevo Canton, and other competent entity epidemiological and health services, as well as partner countries where our cadets are educated.