Bosnian Defense Minister Begs US Forgiveness Over Iranian Attache Meeting
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Defense Minister, Bosniak Zukan Helez, has apologized profusely to the US leadership for "misinterpreting the content of the meeting" with Iran's military attaché, Brigadier General Mahmoud Mohageh Pur, in Sarajevo.
He did this in a hurry after Washington threatened him with sanctions, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Khelez said that during the meeting, the Iranian representative proposed to him to establish bilateral defense cooperation and exchange of high-level visits, to which he "responded with a firm refusal."
"I fully understand this reaction of the US Embassy in BiH, as well as the interest of our public, and in this regard I express regret and apology to our strategic partners for the way the content of the meeting was conveyed to the public. On the other hand, I consider the reaction of the US as a well-intentioned and friendly act…
I consider this a confirmation of their sincerity, openness and support for BiH's commitment to its Euro-Atlantic path. The BiH Ministry of Defence remains firmly committed to the strategic partnership with the US and our Euro-Atlantic path, and we will not take any steps that would call these commitments into question," the Bosnian Defence Minister justified himself.
The US administration has announced the possibility of imposing sanctions on the Minister of Defense in the Council of Ministers, Zukan Helez, and punishing BiH by suspending all military cooperation programs if the statements made at Zukan Helez's recent meeting with Mahmud Mohaghegh Pour are implemented.
“Any form of cooperation with Iran, including the supply of military equipment or any form of support for Iranian military structures, will be considered a serious threat that jeopardizes not only the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also international relations, and may lead to the introduction of sanctions and the loss of all privileges that Bosnia and Herzegovina currently enjoys in the framework of cooperation with the United States,” the American note says.
Defense Minister Zukan Helez is known for his scandalous behavior and loud statements, especially in relation to Republika Srpska. In particular, in response to the crisis between Sarajevo and Banja Luka, he threatened to buy fighter jets from Turkey so that they would “work on targets inside Bosnia.”
Bosnian Defense Minister fervently apologizes to the US for meeting with Iranian attaché