Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Bećirović, pointed out in Brussels on Tuesday the importance of NATO’s proactive action in BiH, calling for ensuring the long-term presence of NATO forces in military bases in BiH, as this would be the best prevention of the disruption of peace and security in the country and the region. He stressed that Bosnia and Herzegovina should be even more firmly institutionally incorporated into the Alliance’s security framework.
“This implies an increased NATO presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the adoption of a strategic concept that strengthens security guarantees for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the development of concrete plans for political and military action in crisis situations,” Bećirović said in his address to members of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) in Brussels.
He said that today’s meeting, at the highest level, once again shows that Bosnia and Herzegovina is important for the Alliance and that it is very important to accelerate the country’s Euro-Atlantic path.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO are inextricably linked. NATO has established and preserved peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The citizens and peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina are eternally grateful to NATO,” Bećirović emphasized.
He recalled that the Dayton Peace Agreement, Annex 1-A, clearly stipulates the role of NATO. According to this international agreement, NATO has the mandate and duty, when necessary, to establish its forces with the aim of protecting peace and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The Alliance’s approach, which implies that the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina is incorporated into NATO’s security, as well as the importance of joint action to strengthen the defense capabilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is of utmost importance,” said the member of the BiH Presidency, welcoming NATO’s decision to develop a new Defense Capacity Building (DCB) package for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The package includes projects that are very important for strengthening defense capabilities, resilience and interoperability with NATO,” he explained.
He also recalled that BiH has adopted all key legal, strategic and other documents in the field of defense and security that clearly state that the goal is to become a member of NATO.
“Until the aforementioned laws and documents are changed, they must be implemented and are binding for everyone. Let me remind you, they were unanimously adopted by state authorities, with the votes of Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats and Others,” said Bećirović.
The BiH Presidency Member also recalled that on the path towards full membership in NATO, Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved concrete results.
Among other things, state authorities have adopted five annual reform programs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have been submitted to Brussels, and a sixth is in preparation, agreed with NATO on the Individual Tailored Partnership Program for the period 2025-2028, adopted more than 70 decisions in the field of defense at sessions of the BiH Presidency in the last two years, and declared and evaluated the Light Infantry Battalion Battle Group of the Armed Forces of BiH, which was successfully assessed by NATO.
– Attack on the constitutional order-
“Unfortunately, the leadership of the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska (RS) brutally attacked the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the beginning of March this year. Let us not forget, the leadership of this entity has been undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement for years and openly working against the Euro-Atlantic integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Bećirović said.
He stated that the competent judicial institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina), in accordance with the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted appropriate measures and decisions that rendered the illegal acts of the Bosnian entity RS legally invalid.
Milorad Dodik was sentenced in the first instance to one year in prison and a six-year ban on political activity for attacking the constitutional order of the state. Due to the denial of court decisions and the continuation of anti-constitutional activities, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the law, issued a central arrest warrant for Milorad Dodik, Nenad Stevandić and Radovan Višković, he reminded.
“Given these facts, the aforementioned leaders of the Bosnian entity of RS are no longer relevant interlocutors, they are the subject of the judiciary,” he said, stating that there are numerous common interests between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO for our country to become a member of the Alliance as soon as possible.
Among other things, he stated that the NATO and EU paths of Bosnia and Herzegovina are complementary, and security and military reasons are reflected in the fact that it would be much more efficient to integrate Bosnia and Herzegovina into NATO than to deploy NATO forces to establish peace and security in the country and the region.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership in NATO is the best solution in terms of ensuring a quality security environment,” Bećirović emphasized.
He believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a member of NATO, would strengthen its democratic path and development, and joining NATO would also strengthen regional cooperation, because good neighborly relations contribute to reducing security threats.
“NATO membership creates the prerequisites for economic stability and growth in foreign investment,” Bećirović emphasized, presenting several concrete proposals.
“I believe it is extremely important for NATO to act proactively in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including deterrence measures. It is very important to ensure the long-term presence of NATO forces in military bases in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This would be the best prevention of the violation of peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region,” he said.
He stressed that it is necessary to have a ready NATO response in case the UN Security Council vetoes and prevents the extension of the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina should be even more firmly institutionally incorporated into the Alliance’s security framework. This implies an increased NATO presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the adoption of a strategic concept that strengthens security guarantees for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the development of concrete plans for political and military action in crisis situations,” said Bećirović.
He proposed the adoption of a joint action map, with the aim of Bosnia and Herzegovina being invited to NATO membership as soon as possible.
– BiH’s path to NATO membership-
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path to NATO membership began in 2001, with the adoption of a Declaration in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, which resulted in the Law on Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which prescribed the obligation of all state institutions to work on fulfilling the criteria for NATO membership.
BiH submitted an official request for participation in the MAP (Membership Action Plan) in 2009, and the NAC invited BiH to participate in the MAP in 2018. The following year, in 2019, the first Annual National Program (ANP) was drafted and submitted.
BiH has so far participated in two NATO missions, in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as several UN missions and military exercises with NATO forces in the country and abroad, AA writes.
