N1 learned that the Helicopter Service of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity did not contact Bosnia's Defence Ministry with a request for help in extinguishing the forest fire in the Gacko area. Instead, they sought help from neighbouring Serbia, and the request for permission for that country's helicopter to enter Bosnia and Herzegovina was sent to the wrong address.

Last weekend, two fires broke out in the ​​Gacko Municipality, in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and due to the inaccessible terrain, the RS Helicopter Service was involved in extinguishing the flames, in addition to members of the Gacko fire department.

The director of RS Helicopter Service, Boban Kusturic, said that they do not have enough resources to put out the fire that broke out again on Monday and that the involvement of the Helicopter Unit of the Ministry of the Interior of Serbia was requested. He added that the entry of a helicopter from a neighbouring country into BiH requires the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, which is still lacking.

“Colleagues from Serbia are willing to help, given that it is impossible to put out the fire with just one helicopter, they prepared the helicopter and equipment and sent the request to the BiH Foreign Ministry. I can't understand the people in the MFA who haven't yet approved the helicopter that is solely used for firefighting and helping the civilian population. When it comes to helping the population in emergencies, they shouldn't think about politics, instead, they should think the way we, professionals, do and how and in what way to help the ordinary people in this country”, said Kusturic.

Bosnia's Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic confirmed for N1 the information that the Ministry received the request for a permit for the entry of Serbian helicopters into BiH and explained why there is no response from that Ministry:

“We received that request from the Helicopter Service, that is, from the Civil Protection Administration. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot approve or prohibit any helicopter from entering, crossing, overflying… We receive about three hundred such requests per month and forward them to competent institutions. And people should learn that especially those who have been in this business for a long time,” Konakovic said.

He added that the request was forwarded to the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the law and procedures of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“That Ministry should send us such the permit, and first obtain the consent of the Ministry of Defence because it is a helicopter of another country. We have not yet received any documentation from the Ministry of Transport and Communications or the Ministry of Defence. Our people in the Ministry did the work as fast as they did every time. So, these are very simple procedures,” Konakovic explained for N1.

He added that this is another attempt to politicize the calamity, but that at the moment it is not clear to him why certain politicians are doing this.

“One benevolent advice – if they're worried about the people and if they are worried about a calamity, they should urgently contact the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are trained to provide help and support as part of their activities. They also have the equipment to provide help and support in such situations,” he added.

Bosnia's Defence Ministry confirmed for N1 that the RS Helicopter Service did not contact them with a request for help in extinguishing the fire. The question is why?

“I'm sure that everyone in those types of accidents, natural disasters or otherwise, would come to each other's aid. The Armed Forces have all the necessary equipment for that and it is really very strange that they would seek the support and help of Serbia instead of the country where they live. I have nothing against saving human lives in this way in some situations. I would never obstruct it like the presidents from the RS obstructed the lifting of helicopters when they were members of the BiH Presidency – Milorad Dodik in particular. That's not how we deal with politics”, Bosnia's Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic concluded.

The Bosnian Serb Presidency member Zeljka Cvijanovic's Cabinet stated that an urgent letter was sent to the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH, as well as the Ministry of Defense, and not only to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konakovic, in which they request that arrival and overflight of the helicopter of the Ministry of the Interior of Serbia be approved immediately and without delay, to help put out the fire in Gacko Municipality, thus showing responsibility towards human lives.

In the meantime, State Minister of Defence Zukan Helez confirmed to N1 that Cvijanovic sent the request to the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Ministry of Transport and Communications.