SARAJEVO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is arranging flights to evacuate its citizens from Gulf countries following escalating tensions in the region, Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic said on Wednesday.
A flight scheduled to bring 156 BiH citizens from Dubai to Sarajevo was canceled due to a reduction in airport slots, which limited takeoffs and landings, BiH Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Bojan Dokic confirmed. He noted that 74 other flights were also canceled and that the option of organizing charter flights is under consideration.
Konakovic said a new commercial flight from Dubai is expected on Saturday, and several charter flight offers have been received. He added that the Council of Ministers is expected to approve reserve funds to finance charter flights, which he described as safer than commercial services. All costs will be transparent, he stressed.
The minister said he is in contact with officials in Serbia and Croatia, who have offered assistance. Some BiH citizens have already returned, including three who traveled to Belgrade from Egypt and three students en route to Podgorica.
According to the ministry, around 1,000 BiH citizens are in the United Arab Emirates, 300 in Qatar and about 100 in Kuwait. ■
