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SARAJEVO, June 23 (FENA) – A simulation exercise "Coordination 2021", aimed at testing the system of coordination, management and existing plans in response to emergencies, was held today in Sarajevo as part of the Bilateral Cooperation Program between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States of America.
The exercise includes competent institutions from the protection and rescue system of all levels of government in cooperation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The exercise is also attended by a team of experts from the United States of America, whose members are from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the US Team of the Civil Military Emergency Program (CMEP) Initiative, and from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency with the mediation of the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC Bosnia) of the US Embassy in BiH.
BiH Minister of Security Selmo Cikotić pointed out that a successful simulation of the exercise was held today, which aims to test the internal procedures of efficiency and effectiveness of institutions in BiH in terms of responding to natural and other disasters.
“We are in a seismically active area and this exercise is designed to test the state's ability to respond to an earthquake accident. However, a similar scenario is used for other accidents caused by climate change, other accidents, but also man-made disasters,” he pointed out.
In order to respond to challenges and accidents that suddenly appear, Minister Cikotić says that everyone must be well prepared and that good coordination and cooperation of institutions is very important for the function of saving people's lives, but also reducing damage.
BiH Minister of Defense Sifet Podžić pointed out that BiH needed this exercise. He expressed hope that after the exercise, the experiences and lessons learned will be used and that the situation will not be the same as before.
“The Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces will continue to help the citizens, because nature knows no national or administrative borders,” Podžić concluded.
Maryland National Guard Commander Timothy Gowen said that despite the coronavirus pandemic, the partnership remained strong and solid, adding that they had virtually held meetings and exercises for the past 16 months.
“Our armed forces will continue to work together to learn, work and that will strengthen us and lead us to a better future. Regardless of whether we are in Maryland or BiH, we will always be next to each other, and that is exactly how it should be,” he concluded.
US Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson stressed that the exercise emphasizes the importance of cooperation between military and civilian structures and the non-governmental sector in crisis situations.
“In the efforts that are being made to recover from any catastrophe, cooperation between all these agencies is crucial,” he said.
He pointed out that the experience of the National Guard of Maryland in responding to crisis situations is what they can offer to develop the capabilities of civilian structures and armed forces in BiH that are in charge of this type of activity.
Preparations for the exercise began with a "Workshop on Concept and Objectives" in December 2019. This workshop and its planning was hosted by the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the Office of Defense Cooperation at the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was supported by the European Command of the United States (US EUCOM), the FBiH Civil Protection Administration, the Civil Protection Administration of the Republika Srpska and the Public Security Department of the Brčko District of BiH.
(FENA) A. B.
