Zvizdić and Mektić: ISIL flags are not flying in BiH

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Denis Zvizdić and Minister of Security Dragan Mektić held a meeting with security agency directors to discuss the security situation in BiH with a special focus on terrorism, reports the Patria agency.

- ISIL flags are not flying in BiH. There is no data indicating that there are 5,000 or 10,000 radicalized individuals in BiH. We deny such statements, and if our neighbors have data, they should send it to us – stated the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Denis Zvizdić after the meeting.

Zvizdić emphasized that today's meeting with the directors of security agencies in BiH is a continuation of activities aimed at analyzing security in BiH.

He added that BiH has no intention of engaging in daily political discussions with its neighbors.

- We do not wish to react to certain statements that serve the purpose of political or pre-election campaigns of countries in the region or EU countries. We want to provide an institutional response to all statements related to the security situation in BiH, a response based on relevant facts and data that our agencies exchange with agencies from neighboring countries, the EU, and the world.

The cooperation of our security agencies with partners in the neighborhood, the EU, the USA, Interpol, and Europol is at an enviable level, and we possess relevant data that refutes the claims we have heard from officials of countries in the region, as well as from EU countries. I have spoken with a number of people from the academic community, professors who deal with security and terrorism issues – stated Zvizdić.

Zvizdić pointed out that official data on terrorist acts worldwide best refute the statements coming from neighboring countries about BiH being a potential country for terrorism. Out of 143 terrorist attacks in 23 countries worldwide attributed to ISIL members, no one with any connection to BiH participated.

- This refutes all those who speak of BiH as a possible base for terrorism. ISIL flags are not flying in BiH. Neighboring security services have never sent such data. Therefore, we consider such statements to be arbitrary and to have a political background – stated Denis Zvizdić.

Zvizdić praised the work of security agencies, stating that there have been no departures to foreign battlefields, nor have any cases related to terrorism been recorded.

He added that the threat of terrorism in BiH is no greater than anywhere else in Europe and the world.

Minister of Security of BiH Dragan Mektić said that he is in daily contact with the directors of security agencies with the aim of achieving the best possible security results.

- As the responsible minister for this area, I have daily communication with the directors of police agencies. Regarding the dissemination of certain data abroad, the situation concerning terrorism, we have all repeated and stated, and will continue to state publicly and transparently so that all citizens know what the terrorist threat is. Anyone outside BiH who is genuinely and with good intentions interested in the situation regarding terrorism in BiH, we will tell them the full truth. Concealing or suppressing any data or indicator about the state of terrorism in BiH harms us more than anyone else – said Mektić.

Mektić highlighted that on Friday, the implementation of a regional project worth 18 million KM in the fight against radicalism and terrorism, supported by the EU, began, with Slovenia being the key partner for Bosnia and Herzegovina in this project.

The Minister of Security said that BiH, like many European countries, has a problem with radicalism, but not with terrorism, and that the key task of institutions in the future will be to work on de-radicalization.

- We are not running away from the problem. We will focus to the highest extent on working with such groups and on their de-radicalization. The largest part of the 18 million euros will be used for new methods in combating radicalism. We are trying to resocialize these individuals, to return them to society. What constitutes terrorism, we will state publicly. But we cannot accept the absurdities and theories of a number of quasi-analysts, quasi-experts who, with malicious intent or to earn a few marks, present such data and damage the integrity of the state and cause financial harm to our economy, business, and tourism – stated Mektić.

Regarding terrorist threats, Mektić pointed out that they have mainly come from outside BiH, as certain individuals have attempted to enter BiH with the intention of spreading their ideology, but they were prevented from doing so.

Finally, Mektić congratulated all security agencies that participated in the arrest of Amel Sejfović.

- In eight days, they managed to locate and arrest the dangerous fugitive Sejfović, who had escaped in a peculiar way. He has nevertheless been brought to justice and will be tried – concluded Minister Mektić.