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SARAJEVO, February 25 (FENA) – Parliamentary Military Commissioner Boško Šiljegović warned of military brain in an interview with FENA, which according to him is concerning.
By: Aida Kovač
“I think that professional soldiers are leaving Armed Forces because basic status and financial issues are not solved. That means that someone who has a low salary is probably leaving to have a higher one,” said Šiljegović, who was reappointed Parliamentary Military Commissioner last week.
Speaking about the role of a parliamentary military commissioner, he noted we have become regionally recognizable.
“Therefore, BiH I the only country in the region that has a protector of human rights of professional soldiers and cadets,” emphasized Šiljegović.
He noted that practice has been that he has been on the ground with his team on most occasions.
“These field visits, where we live at least for a day or a few days with professional soldiers and members at the location is the real image of the situation in Armed Forces. This is where they can see difficulties commanders and professional soldiers are dealing with. That is exactly the plan for the upcoming period – field visits,” said Šiljegović.
He added they have had various complaints, about a 100 complaints per year.
“I wish we had 500 complaints, but that 490 are not justified. When we have 100 and 80 are justified, that is where there is a certain concern,” said Šiljegović.
Professional soldiers mostly complain about progress in service, ranks, evaluation, etc. That is where we always have complaints.
“What is good is that we managed to raise that process to a higher transparency level, in cooperation with Ministry of Defense so we are reducing the number of complaints,” said Parliamentary Military Commissioner.
He noted they always have had a problem with nutrition and material-technical resources.
He added they need to regulate that rulebook on promotion and further career steps is followed in the upcoming period so that soldiers know what they can expect in Armed Forces in a year, two years, five or ten because “it is that uncertainty that gives them the possibility to leave”.
He noted he has excellent cooperation with Joint Committee on Defense and Security of BiH and they often visit locations together.
There is also a very professional cooperation with Ministry of Defense, Joint Staff and General Inspectorate.
“Confirmation of this cooperation is the fact that Geneva DCAF (The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces) issued a decision last year for BiH to host and organize the International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces in 2019. That is very affirmative for BiH and Office of Parliamentary Military Commissioner and Ministry of Defense of BiH,” said Šiljegović.
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