The decisions of the NATO summit from Madrid are being implemented without delay, which has made the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) unquestionable, and its defense capabilities are continuously being strengthened. This was stated by dr. Alija Kozljak, advisor to the member of the BiH Presidency, Denis Becirovic, and former military representative of BiH to NATO.
It was from the Presidency of BiH that the strengthening of the defense capacities of BiH and the concretization of political and practical assistance to our country was encouraged, which was directly requested by the member of the Presidency of BiH, Denis Becirovic, during the recent meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and other important officials of the Alliance.
Equipment and funds
In this regard, I would like to point out that yesterday, with full consensus, NATO made a decision to accept a specific package for the construction of defense capabilities of BiH in the amount of more than 100 million BAM,” Kozljak noted yesterday.
He adds that it is about equipment and resources for which the defense and security institutions of BiH have previously expressed their needs, and that this support package will be implemented in this way.
”I must emphasize that this is only the first package of support. This project will continue in the following years, but what is even more important, it will be further increased through bilateral cooperation, i.e. procurement of the most modern defense systems, which includes helicopters, combat vehicles and other military assets, whereby NATO members will individually provide additional support for strengthening the defense and security capabilities of BiH,” Kozljak points out.
Unquestionable implementation of important decisions
Reacting to the statement of the President of the Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik that the Presidency should refuse NATO’s help, Kozljak says that “BiH is a reliable partner of the NATO alliance, the most serious aspirant country and the only one that has activated its Action Plan for NATO membership”.
”This was especially strengthened after the last NATO summit in Madrid, when it was decided that the security of BiH is incorporated into the security of NATO, and that in this context NATO will provide support to our country to strengthen its defense capabilities and security.
A strategic goal
”By implementing the BiH Reform Program, signed by Dodik, BiH unstoppably and rapidly continues its NATO integration process. An institutional consensus has been reached around this, so there are no alternatives. BiH‘s membership in NATO and the European Union (EU) is a strategic goal, which we will never give up on,” concludes Alija Kozljak, adviser to the member of the BiH Presidency.
E.Dz.