From BiH: 'Vučić learned the Drina is a border,' Serbia responds: 'It is not and never will be a border of the Serbian people'

A statement by Bosnia and Herzegovina's Defense Minister, Zukan Helez, suggesting that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić "learned that the Drina is a border after all" has ignited a sharp exchange with Serbian authorities. The remark came after special police units in Bosnia's Central Bosnia Canton intervened in Bugojno, encountering individuals who claimed to be members of the Republika Srpska Interior Ministry but were not part of Vučić's officially announced security detail during his visit.

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I am here with boys and girls from the Federation and Republika Srpska, it was something on their level of competencies between the two ministries or something like that. And my guys are here, everything reported, we had no problem. And worse than those politicians from Sarajevo are these wretches from Serbia, who go against their own people and president before they even hear the real truth.

President Vučić vehemently denied allegations of "Vučić's forces" being present in Bosnia and Herzegovina, calling them "notorious lies." He stated that his presence and that of his accompanying team, comprising individuals from both the Federation and Republika Srpska, were fully reported and caused no issues. Vučić criticized what he termed "politicians from Sarajevo" and "traitors from Serbia" for immediately opposing him without knowing the truth, attributing such reactions to a "serf soul mentality."

Helez had initially announced that special police units reacted to citizen reports of armed men in the area not registered as part of Vučić's security detail. He congratulated the police and declared that Vučić "learned that the Drina is a border after all." In response, Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić declared, "The Drina is not and will never be a border of the Serbian people, but rather a symbol of our history, our identity, and our unity."

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The Drina is not and will never be a border of the Serbian people, but rather a symbol of our history, our identity, and our unity.

Gašić accused Helez of repeatedly attacking Serbia, Republika Srpska, and President Vučić. He asserted that Vučić's visit to Republika Srpska was not to a "foreign house" but to his "ancestral land" among his people, carrying messages of peace and stability. Gašić advised Helez to focus on his own ministry's issues rather than provoking incidents, stating that Serbia would continue its policy of peace and respect for the Dayton Peace Agreement, while nurturing its special ties with Republika Srpska.

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Helez once again shows that his only political platform is attacking Serbia, Republika Srpska, and President Aleksandar Vučić. While the President of Serbia comes to Republika Srpska to pay respects to innocent victims of the criminal action 'Oluja' and send a message of peace, Helez tries to turn that act into a political circus and create an incident where there was none.