Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović, said today after the meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels that he supports NATO’s proactive actions, including deterrence measures and the possible presence of NATO forces in military bases in BiH.
He emphasized that full membership in NATO is one of BiH’s strategic foreign policy priorities, which was decided by BiH. institutions with votes from both entities and all peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bećirović stated that after 20 years BiH is now “at the door” of NATO and that it must use this opportunity for the sake of all the citizens and peoples who live in it.
He added that BiH proved to be a reliable partner of NATO, among other things, by adopting three Annual National Plans (ANP), after which NATO officially confirmed that the Membership Action Plan (MAP) had been activated.
Bećirović underlined that all the formal conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina to be invited for NATO membership have been met, and that a high degree of interoperability of the defense and security sector has been achieved.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is ready for joint action in accordance with NATO standards,” said Bećirović.
He specified that he proposed to Stoltenberg that NATO, through a more comprehensive implementation of the MAP, define a higher and more concrete level of integration and connection between NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina, including more concrete security guarantees.
Stoltenberg expressed deep concern about the secessionist policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today expressed his deep concern with the secessionist policy in BiH, which he called reckless and dangerous because it undermines the hard-won progress and hinders reforms that would benefit the citizens.
After the meeting with the Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović, at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Stoltenberg said that all politicians must work together to preserve unity and protect state institutions, which is crucial for peace and security in BiH, but also for the stability of the Western Balkans.
He added that BiH is a long-standing NATO partner that strongly supports its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the Althea operation to ensure a safe environment, and he praised BiH for the recent progress on the road to EU membership.
Stoltenberg pointed out that NATO supports the defense reform of Bosnia and Herzegovina and appreciates the contribution that Bosnia and Herzegovina makes to common security.
“The Alliance welcomes BiH’s efforts to improve the state of the armed forces in order to cooperate even more closely with NATO, including the certification of the light infantry battalion of the Armed Forces of BiH according to NATO standards,” said Stoltenberg.
He emphasized that NATO remains firmly committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with which it wants to continue political dialogue in order to strengthen cooperation for the purpose of common security, BHRT writes.
