Ministry of Defence (Republika Srpska)

Ministry of Defence of
Republika Srpska
Министарство одбране
Републике Српске
Ministarstvo odbrane
Republike Srpske
Standard of the Minister of Defence (1995–2007)
Map
Agency overview
Formed22 April 1992; 33 years ago (1992-04-22)
Dissolved28 December 2005; 20 years ago (2005-12-28)
Jurisdiction Republika Srpska
HeadquartersBanja Luka
Ministers responsible

The Ministry of Defence of Republika Srpska (Serbian: Министарство одбране Републике Српске) was the entity-level department responsible for defence policy, mobilisation, and administrative support to the armed forces of Republika Srpska between 1992 and 2005. It was established by the entity authorities in April 1992.[1] It functioned throughout the wartime period (1992-95) in conjunction with the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS),[2] and was abolished during state-level defence reforms culminating in the formation of the unified Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2005-06.[3][4]

History

Establishment (1991–1992)

In the autumn of 1991, following the multi-party elections and escalating nationalist tensions in the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbian political leaders and the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) began organising parallel structures in Serb-majority areas. Several self-proclaimed "Serb Autonomous Oblasts" (SAOs) emerged, intended to form the basis of a contiguous Serb territory within Bosnia and Herzegovina. As noted in the analysis of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), these moves included clandestine arms distributions and paramilitary re-organisation.[2]

Amid these preparations, on 22 April 1992 the Government of the newly declared entity of Republika Srpska formally established the Ministry of Defence, with Bogdan Subotić appointed as first Minister.[1] Shortly after, on 12 May 1992 the entity’s Assembly approved the formal creation of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS).[5] These institutional steps solidified the parallel Serb defence structure, and the Ministry issued mobilisation orders and assumed responsibility for personnel, logistics and coordination of the defence system.

Wartime role (1992–1995)

During the Bosnian War the Ministry of Defence functioned as the civilian administrative body overseeing defence affairs of the entity, while operational command of combat units lay with the VRS Main Staff and the entity Presidency as Commander-in Chief.[2] The Ministry’s tasks included mobilisation, administration of manpower records, procurement and supply, integration of paramilitary formations into the VRS structure,[6] and coordination with civilian ministries and government institutions for the war effort. Tribunal documentation confirms the Ministry’s role in mobilising and supporting the VRS chain of command.[7]

Post-Dayton period and abolition (1995–2005)

In the post-war era the Ministry continued as the defence authority for the entity within the Bosnia and Herzegovina state framework. Under the supervision of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), defence reform began in 2003.[8] The 2005 Law on Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina mandated the abolition of entity armies and ministries;[3] on 28 December 2005 the Ministry of Defence of Republika Srpska was dissolved and its functions transferred to the state-level Ministry of Defence and the unified Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[9][4]

Structure and functions

Entity legislation defined the Ministry as responsible for "regulating, developing and implementing the defence system," including tasks of mobilisation, education, logistics and defence-sector organisation. In wartime the operational command of units was handled by the VRS Main Staff; the Ministry functioned largely as the civilian/administrative backbone of the entity’s military structure.[2]

List of ministers

No. Portrait Minister Took office Left office Time in office Party Defence branch Ref.
1
Bogdan Subotić [sr]
Subotić, BogdanColonel
Bogdan Subotić [sr]
(1941–2022)		22 April 199220 January 1993273 daysIndependent Army[10]
2
Dušan Kovačević [sr]
Kovačević, DušanColonel
(when appointed)
Major general
(since 10 November 1993)
Dušan Kovačević [sr]
(born 1942)		20 January 199318 August 19941 year, 210 daysIndependent Army[11]
3
Milan Ninković [sr]
Ninković, MilanMilan Ninković [sr]
(born 1943)		18 August 199418 January 19983 years, 153 daysSDSnone[12][13][14][15]
4
Manojlo Milovanović [sr]
Milovanović, ManojloColonel general
Manojlo Milovanović [sr]
(1943–2019)		18 January 199812 January 20012 years, 360 daysIndependent Army[16]
5
Slobodan Bilić [sr]
Bilić, SlobodanSlobodan Bilić [sr]
(born 1951)		12 January 200117 January 20032 years, 5 daysSPnone[17]
6
Milovan Stanković [sr]
Stanković, MilovanMilovan Stanković [sr]
(born 1958)		17 January 200328 December 20052 years, 345 daysSDSnone[18][19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Preminuo Bogdan Subotić, prvi ministar odbrane Republike Srpske". Nezavisne novine (in Serbian). 10 January 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Judgement of: Radovan Karadžić (IT-95-5/18) – Public Redacted Version" (PDF). International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). 24 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Law on Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH Official Gazette 88/05)" (PDF). Office of the High Representative (OHR). 5 October 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "29th Report of the High Representative to the UN Secretary-General". OHR. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  5. ^ "16. sjednica – Zapisnik (12 May 1992): Odluka o formiranju Vojske RS" (PDF) (in Bosnian). Srebrenica Memorial Center (archival scan). 12 May 1992. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  6. ^ "The Individuals Involved in the Ethnic Cleansing of Bijeljina". Human Rights Watch. May 2000. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Prosecutor v. Momčilo Krajišnik – Trial Judgement (IT-00-39-T)" (PDF). ICTY. 27 September 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  8. ^ The Path to Partnership for Peace – Defence Reform Commission (PDF) (Report). Office of the High Representative (Defence Reform Commission). 25 September 2003. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  9. ^ Defence Reform Commission Report 2005 (PDF) (Report). Office of the High Representative (Defence Reform Commission). 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  10. ^ Састав Владе Републике Српске изабране 22. априла 1992. године. www.vladars.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  11. ^ Састав Владе Републике Српске изабране 20. јануара 1993. године. www.vladars.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  12. ^ Састав Владе Републике Српске изабране 18. августа 1994. године. www.vladars.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Састав Владе Републике Српске изабране 17. децембра 1995. године". www.vladars.net. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  14. ^ Састав Владе Републике Српске изабране 18. маја 1996. године. www.vladars.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  15. ^ Састав Владе Републике Српске изабране 27. новембра 1996. године. www.vladars.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  16. ^ Састав Владе Републике Српске изабране 18. јануара 1998. године. www.vladars.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  17. ^ Састав Владе Републике Српске изабране 12. јануара 2001. године. www.vladars.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  18. ^ Влада Републике Српске изабрана 17. јануара 2003.. www.vladars.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  19. ^ Влада Републике Српске изабрана 15. фебруара 2005.. www.vladars.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Defence_(Republika_Srpska)