UNIS GROUP Responds: Ministry is Obligated to Issue Permit for Ammunition Export to Ukraine

The company "UNIS-GROUP" d.o.o. Ilidža issued a press release following the BiH Presidency's stance that the export of weapons to Ukraine is not in our country's foreign policy interest, writes the Patria News Agency.

We are transmitting the press release in its entirety:  

Regarding the BiH Presidency's stance on the export of weapons and military equipment from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Ukraine, adopted at the Third Regular Session of the BiH Presidency, we inform you:

- The BiH Presidency, acting within its regular competencies, has taken a political stance on the future relationship and approach of BiH to resolving the crisis in Ukraine. It is also evident that the BiH Presidency is taking the same stance as some EU member states, although it is clear that in recent months, companies from these countries, which have taken the same stance, have been increasing their exports of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, without excessive public and media exposure, which is confirmed by available relevant information, as Ukraine is not on the international lists of countries to which exports are restricted or banned.

Furthermore, we remind you that the export in question by the company "UNIS GROUP" d.o.o. Ilidža is intended for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, i.e., the forces maintaining order and peace in Ukraine, and not for other entities, and that the subject of export is only small-caliber ammunition, not sophisticated weapons and military equipment.

The BiH Presidency's stance on this issue cannot, in this specific situation, apply in any way or retroactively to the issuance of an export permit to the company "UNIS GROUP", because the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH has obtained all necessary documentation from the competent ministries, and the legal deadlines for resolving this administrative procedure have long expired.

In future procedures for issuing prior consent for the export of weapons and military equipment, the BiH Presidency's stance may influence the decisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH.

Finally, we emphasize that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH is obliged to act according to the law and issue a permit for the export of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine to the company "UNIS GROPU", as it has all the necessary facts, and due to its failure to do so, we have filed criminal charges against the responsible officials, according to the statement signed by director Suvad Osmanagić.