On Wednesday, Bosnia’s Defence Minister Zukan Helez denied permission for a military aircraft carrying Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto to land in the Bosnian Serb Republic, citing Budapest’s support for a Bosnian Serb separatist leader whose actions have undermined Bosnia’s sovereignty.
Helez stated that Hungary had not provided any justification for Szijjarto’s presence on the aircraft that was attempting to land in Banja Luka, the administrative center of the autonomous Serb Republic.
Szijjarto had been in neighbouring Serbia to discuss Hungary’s support for Belgrade following a suspension of crude oil shipments from Croatia.
Helez remarked that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Szijjarto had openly endorsed Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik in actions that “undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).”
“As the Minister of Defence of BiH, my responsibility is to safeguard the constitutional order, laws, and interests of BiH,” Helez was quoted by Reuters in a Facebook post.
“That is why I have chosen not to authorize this flight until full transparency and respect for our state are guaranteed,” he further stated.
Dodik, the former president of the Serb Republic who lost his position after being convicted for defying the decisions of the international peace envoy and constitutional court, has publicly celebrated Orban’s backing of his policies.
“As the Minister of Defence of BiH, my responsibility is to safeguard the constitutional order, laws, and interests of BiH,” Helez was quoted by Reuters in a Facebook post.
“That is why I have chosen not to authorize this flight until full transparency and respect for our state are guaranteed,” he further stated.
Dodik, the former president of the Serb Republic who lost his position after being convicted for defying the decisions of the international peace envoy and constitutional court, has publicly celebrated Orban’s backing of his policies.
