SARAJEVO, Jan 17 (Hina) - Ferid Buljubasic, Deputy Defence Minister of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, has confirmed that he recently paid a visit to Belgrade, but dismissed claims that the visit was a secret mission linked with
weapons smuggling. Prompted by frequent comments in the Bosnian media made by senior federal officials with regard to his visit, Buljubasic decided to tell his side of the story before the Federation House of Representatives. His explanation, however, left a lot to be desired. The purpose of the visit to Belgrade was to discuss methods of settling Belgrade's USD212-million pre-war debt to Bosnia, Buljubasic said. He added the visit had been planned by the federal government and that the Bosniak and Croat members of the Bosnian state presidency, Beriz Belkic and Jozo Krizanovic, had known about and approved it. Another issue discussed in Belgrade was another debt amountin
SARAJEVO, Jan 17 (Hina) - Ferid Buljubasic, Deputy Defence Minister
of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, has confirmed that he
recently paid a visit to Belgrade, but dismissed claims that the
visit was a secret mission linked with weapons smuggling.
Prompted by frequent comments in the Bosnian media made by senior
federal officials with regard to his visit, Buljubasic decided to
tell his side of the story before the Federation House of
Representatives. His explanation, however, left a lot to be
desired.
The purpose of the visit to Belgrade was to discuss methods of
settling Belgrade's USD212-million pre-war debt to Bosnia,
Buljubasic said. He added the visit had been planned by the federal
government and that the Bosniak and Croat members of the Bosnian
state presidency, Beriz Belkic and Jozo Krizanovic, had known about
and approved it.
Another issue discussed in Belgrade was another debt amounting to
around 80 million euros which Belgrade should pay Bosnia in line
with an agreement on succession to the former Yugoslavia.
Buljubasic claims senior Bosnian state officials informally and
verbally approved his visit to Belgrade.
Federation President Safet Halilovic and Federation Prime Minister
Alija Behmen claim they did not know about Buljubasic's visit.
The most curious fact in this affair is that Minister Anic did not
know about the visit although under the federal law on defence he
controls everything related to the military industry. If Anic had
not decided to go public with the case, this episode would have
probably remained secret.
(hina) sb rml