The members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina met today in Dayton with Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America.
Member of the Presidency of BiH Željko Komšić said after the meeting that the conversation was open, concrete and friendly.
The unwavering support of the United States of America for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina was emphasized, and that the USA remains a strong partner to our country on its Euro-Atlantic path, the Office of Member of the Presidency of BiH Željko Komšić announced.
In addition to discussing the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region and the world, Komšić spoke about the implementation of economic projects with the United States of America, which would lead to the prosperity of the country.
“It would be extremely good to direct the cooperation of American companies with Bosnia and Herzegovina through energy, gas and hydro potentials,” said Komšić.
Deputy Secretary of State Landau agreed with Komšić, emphasizing the importance of economic cooperation, especially in the field of energy, and that the potential of both countries should be utilized. He also said that it is necessary to preserve peace and stability in our country.
The meeting, which was also attended by BiH Ambassador to the United States Sven Alkalaj, was held on the eve of the NATO Spring Assembly in Dayton, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement.
Cvijanović: Responsibility for processes in BiH should be taken over by domestic institutions
Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović met today in Dayton with Deputy Secretary of State of the United States Christopher Landau, whom she congratulated on his appointment, the Public Relations Service of the Presidency of BiH announced.
Cvijanović welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump, which was reiterated today by Deputy Secretary of State Landau, that the US would no longer participate in nation-building and interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
She expressed full agreement with her interlocutor that responsibility for all processes in BiH should be taken over by domestic institutions and that solutions must be the product of domestic political agreement.
In this regard, she pointed out the need to intensify internal dialogue with the aim of overcoming all challenges that are exclusively political, not security, in BiH.
She expressed satisfaction with the fact that the US is focused on developing economic relations, for which the preservation of political stability is a prerequisite.
The Chairperson of the Presidency of BiH, Željka Cvijanović, informed her interlocutor about the “harmful consequences of long-standing unprincipled and undemocratic foreign interventionism”.
She stressed her full commitment to reaffirming democracy in BiH, as well as respecting the Dayton Peace Agreement, the statement said.
Bećirović said in a meeting with Landau: The leadership of the entity Republika Srpska is threatening peace and stability
As part of a working visit to the United States (USA), Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović spoke with the US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
Bećirović emphasized the importance of the continued decades-long support of the US to Bosnia and Herzegovina. He emphasized that the US leadership was of key importance for the establishment of peace, as well as for the post-war reconstruction of the state and its institutions, for which the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina are eternally grateful.
He also said that the role of the US is still of crucial importance today, both for maintaining a safe and stable environment, and for supporting reform processes and the democratic development of our country.
During the conversation with the US Deputy Secretary of State, Bećirović warned of the dangerous and destructive activities of the political leadership of the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska, which have resulted in the greatest security crisis since the signing of the Dayton Agreement.
Dodik’s unconstitutional actions and brutal threats to use force to prevent judicial institutions and security agencies from carrying out their tasks constitute an armed rebellion and a direct threat to the destabilization of the state. Such moves seriously jeopardize the Dayton Agreement and pose a dangerous threat to peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the entire region, the Office of BiH Presidency Member Denis Bećirović announced.
Bećirović stressed the importance of further strengthening the transatlantic partnership, which is of utmost importance for intensifying Euro-Atlantic integration and bringing Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to NATO membership.
He added that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to strengthening its strategic partnership with the United States, which has been strengthened by the long-standing joint participation of our armed forces in numerous international peace support operations, from Iraq and Afghanistan to other crisis areas.
Bećirović recalled that the US was a key player in the reforms of the defense sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the training, equipping and development of the Armed Forces of BiH, as well as the overall security capacities of the state.
Also, Bećirović informed Landau about the potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina for foreign investment, including the construction of the Southern Gas Interconnection, which would connect Bosnia and Herzegovina to American LNG (American liquefied natural gas) across the Adriatic Sea. This would strengthen energy cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the US.
In addition, Bećirović spoke about the possibilities of cooperation between the US and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of defense industry, thus strengthening the military-industrial cooperation of the two countries, which would include the joint development of military capacities in accordance with NATO standards.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized that any form of disruption of the security and stability of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina is unacceptable for the US.
The US remains firmly committed to consistent compliance with the Dayton Peace Agreement and continued support for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He stressed that peace, security and strengthening economic cooperation are also important for the United States, the statement said.
