Bosnia’s Minister of Defense, Zukan Helez, on Wednesday refused to authorize the landing of a military aircraft in Republika Srpska that was carrying Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto.
Szijjarto had previously stated that Budapest supported the Bosnian Serb leader, Milorad Dodik, in actions that undermined Bosnia’s sovereignty.
Helez said that Hungary failed to provide an explanation as to why its foreign minister was on the aircraft seeking to land in Banja Luka, the main city of Republika Srpska, Reuters reported.
Szijjarto visited neighboring Serbia on Wednesday to discuss how Hungary could assist Belgrade following the interruption of crude oil deliveries from Croatia.
Helez added that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his foreign minister Szijjarto had openly supported Dodik in actions that “undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
“As the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is my duty to defend the constitutional order, the laws, and the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the Bosnian minister wrote on Facebook.
