Brkic: Appreciation for NATO’s continued Efforts, Support, Assistance to BiH on its Euro-Atlantic Path

Deputy Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chairman of the NATO Cooperation Commission Josip Brkic held separate meetings in Brussels with NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy (ASG PDD) Ambassador Baiba Braže and NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy (ASG PASP) Ambassador Bettina Cadenbach.  

He expressed appreciation for NATO’s continued efforts, support, engagement and assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its Euro-Atlantic path, and expressed gratitude for NATO’s very successful cooperation with BiH institutions and readiness for further intensification and improvement of cooperation.

Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to cooperation with NATO, above all that continued progress and work on the Euro-Atlantic path contributes to the stability and progress of BiH and the region.

Brkic expressed gratitude for the positive assessments of NATO members on the work of the Commission for Cooperation with NATO, emphasizing that the Reform Program 2021 was unanimously approved by the Commission and submitted to the Council of Ministers of BiH for further procedure.

The main topic of conversation between the Deputy Minister and Ambassador Braze was raising awareness of the importance of public diplomacy, i.e. public support for Euro-Atlantic processes.

NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy Braze pointed out that BiH’s contribution to peace support operations is highly valued in NATO and that she firmly believes that all countries in the region should become part of NATO.

According to the ambassador, this is proven by NATO’s “open door” policy, which indicates NATO’s role in building and protecting human values, and not only in the country’s defense. 

At a meeting with Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Cadenbach, Deputy Brkic also stressed that the development of good neighborly relations and strengthening regional cooperation are priorities of BiH’s foreign policy with the ultimate goal of including BiH in modern European, political, economic and security integration.

Assistant Secretary-General Candebach commended the work of the Commission for Cooperation with NATO BiH, and stressed the importance of the current positive environment as a driver for the continuation of further processes of cooperation between BiH institutions and NATO.