Bosnia's defence minister Zukan Helez stated that BiH manufactures drones at five locations and that it's no secret.

“The problem is that in Serbia, they thought it was something spectacular, this drone production. I invite (President of Republika Srpska entity Milorad) Dodik to come with me and see for himself when it's finished. We produce more powerful systems than drones, and it's all legal,” said Helez, in an interview with N1.

Helez reiterated that there were paramilitary camps in the territory of the Republika Srpska entity, but they were “temporary in nature” and are attended annually by “students and high schoolers.” The state minister stated that “50 witnesses before the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina” had confirmed his claims.

Helez also responded to accusations from BiH Presidency member Zeljka Cvijanovic that he was “inciting war,” saying that he is not doing that but is performing the job that Cvijanovic and the other two members of the Presidency should be doing.

He said he believes that the stories about rearmament in the region are overblown.

“We have an agreement on arms balance in the region, and everything is within the agreed parameters”, Helez added.

The minister commented the critics for stating that he “has a plan” in case of an attempt to secede a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina?

“What kind of defense minister would I be if I didn't have a plan? For the hundredth time, I'm saying that no part of Bosnia and Herzegovina can ever secede. It might happen that someone tries, but then all mechanisms of international and domestic institutions are triggered. God forbid another war like in 1992, we have the Armed Forces. All the intelligence data I have access to indicate that the situation in the country is calm. I say this to show that there are people ready to defend Bosnia and Herzegovina, and when they realize that and call it “our country,” it makes me happy to hear them say it”, emphasized Helez.