Helez: Germany invested around EUR 480,000 in a logistics facility at Butila barracks

The event was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Armed Forces of BiH, representatives of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in BiH, NATO Headquarters Sarajevo and EUFOR.

BiH Minister of Defense Zukan Helez stated that the project involved the renovation of the main logistics base, emphasizing that the investment amounted to approximately €480,000, provided by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

"Today, we are opening the renovated main logistics base, and the donor for the construction was the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The investment is worth around €480,000. I would like to emphasize that since I have held this position over the past three years, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has invested around €25 million, making it the leading contributor in terms of infrastructure investments. The German Government is helping ensure that our soldiers have better accommodation, improved working conditions and more efficient infrastructure. Today’s event is an example of such cooperation and partnership between the Ministry of Defense and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany," Helez said.

He added that further investments are planned in the coming period.

"We have a program for next year as well; investments will continue, and I hope we will maintain successful cooperation. I would also like to highlight that during this or next week, we will present to the public the completion of the first phase of works on the Armed Forces Hall, which will become one of the most beautiful parts of our city," Helez noted.

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alfred Grannas, stressed that this project is part of broader German support to the Armed Forces of BiH.

"This is just one of 54 projects through which the Federal Republic of Germany supports the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our focus, as seen in this example, is on improving working and living conditions for members of the Armed Forces. Good working conditions for soldiers are the foundation of their readiness, engagement and professional performance. If these conditions are met, other segments of the system's functioning will also improve," Grannas said.

He emphasized that the projects are the result of coordinated and partner-based cooperation.

"We have focused on fundamental matters to provide soldiers of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina with better working and living conditions. Everything we do is implemented in close cooperation with the Minister of Defense and the leadership of the Armed Forces of BiH, and I would like to thank them for that. All activities are also aligned with NATO’s efforts in the process of modernizing the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Ambassador Grannas underlined.