Selmo Cikotić

Selmo Cikotić (born 25 January 1964) is a Bosnian politician, member of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and former Army officer who is the current Minister of Security.[1] He was also the Minister of Defence, a post he was appointed to on 11 January 2007, but unable to take up officially until 22 April 2007, when a ban on former army officers performing defence-related civilian duties expired.[2] His term as Minister of Defence ended on 12 January 2012.

Selmo Cikotić
Cikotić entering The Pentagon in 2007
Minister of Security
Assumed office
23 July 2020
Prime MinisterZoran Tegeltija
Preceded byFahrudin Radončić
Minister of Defence
In office
22 April 2007 – 12 January 2012
Prime MinisterNikola Špirić
Preceded byNikola Radovanović
Succeeded byMuhamed Ibrahimović
Personal details
Born (1964-01-25) 25 January 1964
Berane, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalityBosniak
Political partyParty of Democratic Action
Alma materUniversity of Sarajevo
Military service
Allegiance Yugoslavia (1984–92)
 Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–95)
 Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995–04)
Branch/serviceYugoslav People's Army (1984–92)
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–95)
Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995–04)
Years of service1984–2004
RankBrigadier general
CommandsOperational group Zapad
1st Corps of the Federation Army
Battles/warsBosnian War

In February 1993, he was made commander of operational group Zapad of the 3rd Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bugojno.

Cikotić served as the military attaché at the embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States in Washington, D.C. from December 1994 to 1997. As Brigadier General he was enrolled at the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in June 1997, before being expelled as a result of unconfirmed accusations made by Croatian officials that he commanded soldiers who tortured and killed people in and around Bugojno.[3]

From 2000 to 2004, he was the Commander of the 1st Corps of the Federation Army, and from 2004 to 2007 CEO of OKI in Sarajevo.

In June 2007, he jointly attended a Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council at the NATO headquarters in Brussels with the Serbian defence minister Dragan Šutanovac, together they expressed their governments' wish to join NATO as soon as possible.[4]

In March 2008 he led a five member delegation to Pakistan, to discuss "bilateral cooperation between the two Muslim countries".[5]

Cikotić has a master's degree from the University of Sarajevo in 2004 and is fluent in English.

Personal life

On 17 October 2020, it was confirmed that Cikotić tested positive for COVID-19, amid its pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[6]

References
  1. R.D. (23 July 2020). "Selmo Cikotić je zvanično novi ministar sigurnosti Bosne i Hercegovine" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  2. "Bosnia Gets New Government Four Months After Elections". Journal of Turkish Weekly. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  3. Weiner, Tim (28 June 1997). "Allegations Halt Army Training For Bosnian General in the U.S." New York Times. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  4. "Former Balkan war opponents aspire to NATO "as soon as possible"". International Herald Tribune. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  5. "Bosnian defence team arrives". Daily Times. 24 March 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  6. D.Be. (17 October 2020). "Ministar sigurnosti BiH Selmo Cikotić zaražen koronavirusom" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Nikola Radovanović		 Minister of Defence
2007–2012		 Succeeded by
Muhamed Ibrahimović
Preceded by
Fahrudin Radončić		 Minister of Security
2020–present		 Incumbent
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