Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Denis Becirovic, during an official visit to the United States (U.S.), held a series of meetings with senators and congressmen, as well as other high-ranking officials of that country. The strategic partnership between BiH and the U.S. was discussed, as well as BiH’s membership in NATO, and the current political situation.
“At some of these meetings, very concrete activities were agreed upon, so I am truly encouraged after these meetings. We must continue to build, develop, and enhance this strategic partnership between BiH and the U.S. in the coming period,” stated Becirovic, summarizing the results of the visit so far.
As he said, he pointed out to his interlocutors that in light of global geopolitical changes, there is a real basis for strengthening and creating a new economic platform between the two countries based on mutual interest. Accordingly, Becirovic pointed out the importance of the Southern Interconnection, as well as the Western and Northern Interconnections, and the construction of accompanying infrastructure.
“These projects are of exceptional importance for BiH, especially the Southern Interconnection project. This project reduces dependence on individual suppliers, and through its realization, access is enabled to U.S. LNG, that is, U.S. liquefied natural gas. The Southern Interconnection project has the support of the U.S., and that is very important for us,” he emphasized.
Also, in addition to the Southern Interconnection, he believes that cooperation between BiH and the U.S. can be expanded to other infrastructure projects, railways, hydroelectric facilities, and digital infrastructure.
“U.S. presence in these projects would additionally strengthen the institutional framework, suppress corruption, and ultimately guarantee the sustainability of investments. I think it is very important that we informed our interlocutors about the possibilities of entry of U.S. capital into the defense industry, which can represent an excellent means for broader military-industrial cooperation,” emphasized Becirovic.
In that sense, he also spoke about other very important projects.
“To my interlocutors in the U.S., I very clearly stated that it is extremely important that the U.S. continues to be active in BiH and in the Western Balkans region, that separatism and great-state projects are not an option in our region. They are dangerous for the peace and security of the whole region. In that sense, it is necessary to continue with targeted sanctions against those who destabilize the state of BiH and threaten peace and security in BiH,” underlined Becirovic.
It is also very important that the U.S. fully supports the state institutions of BiH, especially the independent judiciary.
Becirovic also pointed out that full support for the High Representative in BiH is very important because, as he explained, “he exists on the basis of Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Bonn Powers, and his role is very important in protecting peace and stability in our country, and I would say in the region as well.”
With high-ranking U.S. officials, Becirovic also discussed NATO membership, and on that occasion stated that BiH needs faster access to NATO membership, because that would be, as he said, in the interest of both BiH and the U.S.
“BiH’s entry into NATO would change the geopolitical landscape of the entire region and significantly limit the influence of autocratic states. In that sense, we also pointed out the fact that the Dayton Peace Agreement is one of the symbols of the successful foreign policy of both the U.S. and our Western partners and that it needs to be preserved and gradually upgraded. Because a stable BiH is equal to a stable Southeast Europe oriented towards Euro-Atlantic integration,” emphasized Becirovic.
His interlocutors, as he stated, understand how serious the situation in BiH is and how necessary U.S. engagement in BiH and the region is.
“That is why, at those meetings, we agreed on a series of concrete activities that will now be initiated in the U.S., and which aim to strengthen the state of BiH, preserve peace, and stability, and turn towards the economic development of BiH,” emphasized Becirovic.
This is the seventh visit of the member of the Presidency of BiH Denis Becirovic to the U.S. in a little over two years of his mandate.
