KOŠARAC: I DEMAND INVESTIGATION, IT SEEMS THAT THE FBiH IS ILLEGALLY PRODUCING AND SELLING DRONES

SARAJEVO, JANUARY 17 /SRNA/ - The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers, Staša Košarac, has requested an investigation, as, according to the statements from the Minister of Defense in the Council of Ministers, Zukan Helez, the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ is allegedly illegally producing and selling drones.

"From Helez's statement that drones are being produced and exported from BiH, the only possible conclusion is that drones are being illegally produced in the FBiH and that the Federation is engaging in illegal drone trade," Košarac told reporters. Košarac emphasized that the ministry he heads has exclusive jurisdiction over implementing the law on foreign trade in arms, military equipment, and special-purpose goods, as well as the law on the production of arms and military equipment. He said that after Helez's repeated claims that drones are being produced in BiH, a request was sent to the federal authorities in November last year, seeking information on whether drone production is registered in the FBiH and why such information was withheld from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations. He also showed a letter sent to the relevant federal authorities, from whom no information has been received. "Has any company engaged in drone production been registered, and why haven't they informed us?" Košarac asked. He confirmed that, in his capacity as minister, he will submit a request for an investigation, as Helez's statements indicate that illegal drone production is taking place in the FBiH. According to him, Helez's statement that this process is taking place under "secret contracts" is also problematic, as these so-called contracts do not exist. He noted that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations has never issued a permit, called on the relevant authorities to verify all claims and launch an investigation against Helez, and called on the Parliamentary Assembly to establish an investigative commission. “I urge investigative authorities and the parliament to examine all the facts and raise the issue of accountability. As a minister, I confirm that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations has no official data and has been ignored by federal institutions and authorities regarding the provision of information following Helez’s statements from six months ago," Košarac concluded. Yesterday, Helez reiterated his previous claims about the production of drones that BiH is allegedly exporting to multiple countries, stating that everything else remains a secret.