The security of Bosnia and Herzegovina is key to the stability of the Western Balkans and the rest of Europe – the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, said today in Sarajevo after meeting with the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colonel General Senad Masovic, and the highest representatives of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bauer stated that the war in Ukraine has global consequences, including the Western Balkans.
“My visit comes at a time when global security is under enormous pressure. The conflict in Ukraine is about more than Ukraine and about protecting the rules-based international order. A system that is actually based on allowing countries to have the sovereign right to determine their own destiny “The system in which conflicts are resolved in peaceful ways, where the rule of law applies to everyone, has been attacked,” Bauer pointed out, adding that it is up to all the free democratic states of the world to protect it.
Admiral Bauer added that stronger support for partner countries was agreed upon at the NATO summit in Madrid, for example, through the creation of a new defense security package, modernization of security and defense structures.
“The purpose of this visit is to better understand the challenges your country is facing, and to understand the strengths and capabilities of your Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Bauer added.
Colonel General of the BiH Armed Forces Senad Masovic said that this visit is significant and important from several aspects.
“First of all, it confirms that NATO is present in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that NATO and BiH cooperate effectively at a high level, and that BiH has its place and belongs to the NATO family. That the NATO alliance appreciates everything that the Armed Forces of BiH have done so far on the international level by participating in NATO-led peace support operations, as well as on the internal level by helping citizens in the event of natural disasters, as is still happening today,” Masovic said.
As he added, the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina represent an important factor of stability, which is recognized in NATO structures, and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to be fully committed to the performance of all their tasks and obligations in the future.
