DODIK: HELEZ'S "ORDER" A VIOLATION OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT

BANJA LUKA, MAY 14 /SRNA/ – The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik stated that the "order" issued by Minister of Defense in the Council of Ministers Zukan Helez, regarding the attendance of the Republika Srpska Army Day celebration at the "Kozara" barracks in Banja Luka, represents a violation of the Dayton Agreement.

"There is a Ministry of Defense that includes a minister and two deputies, and a decision from the ministry can only be valid if it is supported by both the minister and the two deputies," Dodik said at a press conference in Doboj. On Monday, May 12, the Day of the Army of Republika Srpska (RSA) and the Third Infantry (Republika Srpska) Regiment of the Armed Forces of BiH was marked at the "Kozara" barracks in Banja Luka, in the presence of the highest leadership of Republika Srpska. Helez had previously stated that he would file criminal charges against those responsible for not enforcing his "order" prohibiting the entry of Republika Srpska's top officials into the "Kozara" barracks in Banja Luka.