NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he spoke after a meeting with members of the BiH Presidency, Željka Cvijanović, Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić.
“Three decades after the Dayton Agreement, NATO remains firmly committed to the stability and security of this region. I have three key messages that I want to convey to everyone, but one is the most important. First of all, NATO is firmly committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO fully supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Rutte said at the beginning of his speech.
He also spoke about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with particular reference to the crisis caused by the actions of the authorities in Republika Srpska.
“The Dayton Peace Agreement is the cornerstone of peace in this country and must be respected. We support the Office of the High Representative. Any activity that undermines the Dayton Agreement, the constitutional order or state institutions is unacceptable. Inflammatory rhetoric and actions are dangerous, as they pose a great threat to the stability and security of BiH. Ultimately, it is up to the political leaders of BiH to take responsibility, and that is you three. There is no other show in town, you have to do it. That was my key message – this country is looking to you three,” he told the members of the BiH Presidency.
He confirmed that NATO would stand by BiH in the event of an escalation.
“Of course, I have concerns about the security situation, but this is not 1992 and we will not allow a security vacuum. The international community is here and is committed to continuing our strong support, both through EUFOR and NATO. I know that EUFOR is fully prepared to maintain a safe and stable environment in BiH. We will not allow the hard-won peace to be jeopardized, and NATO will continue to support you on your Euro-Atlantic path, on which you are making progress. We are doing this together with our international partners, with the European Union and the High Representative,” he said.
He reiterated the position that it is up to politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina to resolve the current situation.
“Political leaders must do their part. The region will benefit from a continued commitment to stability and peace. I emphasize the same thing to all actors in the region. We are committed to our cooperation and want to see our partnership progress and grow. We are ready to build and develop long-term cooperation between NATO and the Armed Forces. It would be great if you could spend more on the Armed Forces of BiH. We are moving in step with you and in accordance with your sovereign decisions. Your sovereignty and territorial integrity are fundamental to both the security and stability of this region. Bosnia and Herzegovina can count on NATO’s full support,” said Rutte.
Finally, he reiterated his most important message, which is that the members of the BiH Presidency “can solve this” and that this is their “encounter with history.”, Klix.ba writes.
