Bosnia blocks landing of Hungarian foreign minister’s plane over ‘support’ for Serb separatist – Firstpost

Bosnia’s Defense Minister Džukan Halez on Wednesday refused to allow a military plane carrying Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto to land in the Bosnian Serb republic, saying Budapest had supported a Bosnian Serb separatist leader in actions that undermine Bosnia’s sovereignty.

Helez said Hungary had provided no justification for why Szijjarto was on board the plane intending to land in Banja Luka, the administrative center of the autonomous Serb Republic.

Szijjártó was visiting neighboring Serbia to discuss Hungary’s aid to Belgrade following the blockage of crude oil shipments from Croatia.

Halez said Hungarian Prime Ministers Viktor Orbán and Szijjártó had openly supported Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik in moves that “undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).”

“As Defense Minister of BiH, my duty is to protect the constitutional order, laws and interests of BiH.” reuters Hayleys was quoted as saying in a post on Facebook.

“I have therefore decided not to approve this flight until full transparency and respect for our state is ensured,” he said.

Dodik, the former President of the Serb Republic who was removed from duty after being convicted of disobeying international peacekeeping and constitutional court rulings, has boasted about Orbán’s support for his policies.

Dodik and his ally Sinisa Karan, who won the region’s snap presidential vote over the weekend according to preliminary results, met with Orban in Budapest on Wednesday.

with inputs from agencies