Attempts to Politicize the Command and Control of the BiH Armed Forces Unacceptable

The Ambassadors of thePIC Steering Board, meeting in Sarajevo today, issued a statement emphasizing the central importance of upholding democratic principles in the political oversight and command of the BiH armed forces. The Steering Board Ambassadors do not agree with any attempt to politicize the command and control of the armed forces.

The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina , unified and under democratic control, represent this country's steady and significant progress towards the norms of a modern European state.

Recent criticism of the Chief of the BiH Joint Staff LT GEN Sifet Podzic for activities undertaken as part of the legitimate performance of his duties as the commander of BiH's unified armed forces are improper, and not the way to establish EU and NATO standards in the armed forces.