Serbia’s Defence Minister told Bosniaks in the south-western part of the country that the military was not an occupier and called on them to join the army, saying all their national and religious rights would be respected, the Beta news agency reported on Wednesday.

Aleksandar Vulin visited the Second Brigade of the Army of Serbia (VS) stationed in Novi Pazar, the centre of the Sandzak region, mostly populated by Bosniaks, saying that no one should be allowed to divide the Serbs and the Bosniaks “for some cheap political scores.”

Vulin has referred to some local Bosniak political leaders who openly speak about what they call the lack of minority rights and disrespect of the laws which guarantee a proportional representation in the state institutions at the local level.

“The Second Brigade is a part of this community. It is not an occupying force, it originates from this people and exists because of this people. I call on the Bosniaks to join their army and safeguard their only homeland, our Serbia,” Vulin told reporters.

The Brigade’s barracks were renovated to house army combat vehicles and provide space for religious practice for both Muslims and Orthodox Christians.

The Mayor of Novi Pazar said that the local authorities had good cooperation with the army and that the VS helped people at the time of natural disasters.

“I’m glad to see that members of different religions have separate rooms in the barracks for their prayers. I’m also happy that the VS allowed our officer to go to the hajj,” Mayor Nihat Bisevac said.