NATO supports EUFOR’s operation “Althea” within the framework of the Berlin Agreement and strongly supports the extension of EUFOR’s mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), said an official from NATO headquarters in Brussels, adding that NATO will not allow a security vacuum to appear.
This statement is NATO’s reaction to the recent remarks of former president of Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik, who said in an interview with Russian media that he would soon go to Moscow, where he would seek Russia’s veto in the United Nations (UN) Security Council on the extension of the EUFOR “Althea” mission in BiH. In the same interview, he also stated that he would seek Russian support for a referendum on the independence of the RS.
In this regard, the NATO official emphasized that the security of BiH is important for the region, but also for Europe and the North Atlantic Alliance.
“We strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH. Any threat of secession is destabilizing and dangerous. We support BiH and its state institutions,” is the clear message of the NATO official.
He also said that NATO remains committed to partnership with BiH and that they are deepening political dialogue and practical cooperation with BiH, including cooperation through the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo and the Cell for support to political engagement.
“NATO also supports reform efforts for BiH to become more resilient and secure, including activities within NATO’s Defence Capacity Building Assistance Package. This strengthens their capabilities in areas such as crisis management, cyber defense, counter-terrorism, and improving the interoperability of the Armed Forces of BiH (AFBiH) with NATO,” he added.
The official from NATO announced that during this year they expect the launch of a number of programs in several areas, including the fight against terrorism, cyber defense, air evacuation, military police, and crisis management.
“Important steps have already been taken. NATO allies and partners have invested more than 8 million euros in a dedicated Trust Fund, and allies continue to appoint experts who will lead the implementation of specific initiatives,” he said.
He noted that NATO closely cooperates with the European Union (EU) to ensure that their efforts complement each other. In addition, he added that NATO staff responsible for this cooperation are consulting on areas of common interest such as air surveillance, cyber defense, and the fight against terrorism.
He further emphasized that the Defence Capacity Building Package builds upon the good cooperation between NATO and BiH in areas of professional military education and good governance, and that they continue discussions on further areas of cooperation with the authorities in BiH.
