ŽUPLJANIN: THE SITUATION IS STABLE, BUT REQUIRES HEIGHTENED CAUTION

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 3 /SRNA/ - Security expert Slobodan Župljanin believes that the security situation in Republika Srpska and BiH is stable, but requires increased precautionary measures.

"The security situation in Republika Srpska is satisfactorily stable, but at the same time challenging from the perspective of the current conflict in the Middle East. Any security incident in the region would significantly jeopardize the security of everyone in the Balkans," Župljanin told SRNA. According to him, visible security challenges and risks are present, though for now without a direct threat. "All security institutions must invest significant efforts to ensure that challenges and risks do not escalate into a direct security threat, because that would become extremely dangerous for the entire Balkans," Župljanin emphasized. He recalled that many individuals from BiH are connected with extremist Islamists from the Middle East, and that some of them have, in various ways, participated in carrying out terrorist acts in BiH, as well as across Europe and the world. According to him, terrorists operate from the shadows, without warning and unexpectedly, which is why the security forces in Republika Srpska are fully justified in raising security measures to a higher level, in accordance with assessments of threats to individuals and facilities. "As intolerance and hatred toward Jews and Israel have already been observed in BiH, it is the obligation of the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska to increase the level of protection for facilities used by people," Župljanin pointed out. He said that an additional responsibility stems from the exceptionally good relations in every sense between Republika Srpska and Israel, as well as between their peoples. "In these conditions, the issue of Balkan security also arises, considering that the largest American base, Bondsteel, is located in Serbia, in Kosovo and Metohija, and could potentially become a target of Iranian ballistic missile strikes in retaliation for American and Israeli attacks on Iran," Župljanin stated. He added that particular responsibility lies with the security structures of BiH and the Federation of BiH, as security threats had previously originated from there, and a visible connection exists between a certain number of terrorists and BiH, toward whom the authorities in BiH, at the very least, had a lenient attitude. The Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska has increased security measures to enable a timely response and prevent potential terrorist attacks in the territory of Republika Srpska, especially near the Jewish Cultural Center in Banja Luka, as well as toward other Jewish communities.