A controversial incident took place at the Theresian Military Academy in Vienna’s New Town, Austria, during a reception ceremony for new officers in the Austrian armed forces. An officer from Bosnia and Herzegovina refused to shake hands with the Austrian Minister of Defense, Claudia Tanner, citing religious beliefs for his actions.
The officer was excluded from the ceremony and denied the traditional academy ring as a consequence of his actions. Deputy Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slaven Galic, was informed beforehand about the officer’s refusal to shake hands with Minister Tanner. Minister Tanner expressed her dissatisfaction with the incident, and Galic later issued an apology on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Austria has a history of training military personnel from Western Balkan countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to enhance stability in the region. These countries lack their own officer schools and have previously sent officers to train in Turkey, with support from the European Union. Galic acknowledged the vital role Austria plays in supporting the development of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and commended the high-quality training at the Theresian Military Academy.
Photo: Kurier