Deadlocked presidency keeps Bosnian troops from departing for Afghanistan

Bosnia and Herzegovina has formally agreed to send a contingent of soldiers to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), yet a deadlocked collective presidency is keeping troops from this Balkan country at home, Nebojsa Radmanovic, the Serb member of the collective presidency, told reporters on Monday.

"There are different opinions about to which contingent to send our 100 soldiers," Radmanovic said, reported Radio Sarajevo. Logistical support for the Bosnian soldiers has been offered from German, Turkish and Danish contingents in Afghanistan.

Radmanovic said the issue is raised at every meeting of the presidency, but an agreement about which contingency will receive the Bosnian troops has yet to be reached.

Earlier this month, military instructors from Bosnia were attached to a number of different ISAF contingencies. Radmanovic indicated the deadlock could be resolved by those soldiers already on the ground.

"In Afghanistan we have already sent 10 officers in various contingencies who should survey the situation and inform the Ministry of Defense, which should draw up a final opinion," Radmanovic said.

Source: Xinhua