Milorad Dodik requested the participation of the BiH Armed Forces in 'Day of RS' parade

Ministry of Defense BiH confirmed for Patria that they received a request from the cabinet of the RS President Milorad Dodik, for the participation of the 3rd Infantry regiment (Republika Srpska) of the BiH Armed Forces in the event marking the nonconstitutional Day of RS due to take place on January 9, 2017 in Banja Luka.

- Ministry of Defense BiH reviews the requests that come from the Cabinet of the president of RS in its regular decision making procedure, taking into consideration positive legal norms in relation to such requests.

Annual activity plans for 2017, for the infantry regiments with regard to their cooperation with civil government, nongovernmental organizations and others, have not been approved as yet, which means that the Activity plan of the Command of the 3rd Infantry regiment (RS) also is not approved, we were told by the Defense Ministry.

According to the law and regulations, a decision i.e. an order for participation in an event can be issued only by the defense minister, Marina Pendes and the head of Joint HQs AF BiH, Ante Jelec.

In the case the minister and the head of Joint HQs give the green light for the participation of the AF BiH troops at the parade in Banja Luka, it will mean that they accept it as a legal and official holiday – Day of RS, which has been declared nonconstitutional by the constitutional court of BiH. That would be the first time that the Armed Forces BiH take part in that event.