prijava
SARAJEVO, July 30 (FENA) - A donation from the European Union in vehicles and specialized equipment to the BiH Border Police and the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), worth about 3.5 million KM, was handed over in Sarajevo today.
The keys of 35 vans and 12 SUVs worth more than three million KM were handed over to the BiH Border Police, as well as additional equipment for performance of tasks. 16 off-road vehicles and special uniforms, worth more than 460,000 KM, were handed over to the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA).
BiH Minister of Security Selmo Cikotić, Head of the EU Delegation to BiH Johann Sattler, Chief of the IOM Mission to BiH Laura Lungarotti, Director of the BiH Border Police Zoran Galić and Advisor to the Director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency Dalibor Milošević attended the ceremony.
Cikotić said that this is an important event which showed a high level of cooperation between the institutions of the international community, the EU Delegation to BiH in the first place, the IOM and other UN organizations and security structures in BiH.
“This is the largest individual donation so far that will improve the capacity of the BiH security system in the fight against various security risks and threats, primarily against illegal migration,” said Cikotić, adding that the purpose of today's donation is to strengthen the Border Police capacity for better control of the border.
Cikotić stated that 35 combined vehicles and 12 off-road SUVs will be directly assigned to police officers and field operatives, and that there will be a direct investment in better state border control in the fight against human trafficking, in the fight against smugglers and migrants and other categories of illegal movement of people in this area.
Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, Johan Sattler, said that migration is a complex global problem that requires international cooperation, but also internal coordination in BiH. As far as internal coordination is concerned, Sattler assessed that there is a stronger engagement of institutions in BiH.
“For the first time, activities are being carried out on the development of strategies for migration management, because migration is an issue that will remain present in the coming period. We also see the efforts that are being made in terms of distribution of the migration burden and that it is not only in two cantons, Una-Sana and Sarajevo Canton, but work is being done to improve that part as well,” Sattler pointed out.
Chief of the IOM Mission to BiH, Laura Lungarotti, said that IOM is proud to help the process, as well as local institutions in a dignified reception of refugees, i.e. people on the move.
Border Police Director Zoran Galić said that only by investing significantly in infrastructure and material and technical resources, BP BiH can keep pace with the application of the most modern practices coming from EU countries.
Advisor to the Director of SIPA Dalibor Milošević thanked for the donation provided for the needs of SIPA.
(FENA) A. B.
