Ivanic misused BH Armed Forces: Honorary Unit may pass but not the Third infantry regiment!

The Chairman of BH Presidency, Mladen Ivanic, misused the Third Infantry Regiment (Republika Srpska) of the BH Armed Forces by lining it up on Sunday in Banja Luka during a ceremony marking nonconstitutional holiday 'Day of RS'.

According to the regulations about the use of the Honorary Unit of the Armed Forces, and following an approval by BH Defense Minister, Marina Pendes, as the Presidency member, he was allowed to use only the Honorary Unit but not the Third Infantry Regiment.

According to the Defense Law, the Third Infantry Regiment, as well as the other two regiments of the Armed Forces, can participate in any celebration event only with approval by all three members of BH Presidency, which did not take place.

It is not in the mandate of the regiments to line up for presidency members unless all three members agree on that.

After he lined up the third infantry regiment in Banja Luka, Ivanic made a statement that, as the presidency member, he had the right to the honorary unit of the Armed Forces.

What is disputable, however, is that he misused his right to commission the honorary unit only with the approval of the Defense ministry, and instead lined up the Third regiment, with message 'this unit of the Armed Forces belongs to me'.

Ivanic also misused the Third Infantry Regiment as now the members of the Armed Forces take active part in activities relating to the nonconstitutional Day of RS.

The Article 23 of the regulations about celebrations and honorary clearly stipulates when the honorary unit of the Armed Forces can be commissioned.