NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said today that the BiH Presidency must take over the leadership of the state, that any security vacuum is unacceptable, and that Milorad Dodik must simply accept court rulings.
Asked by reporters to comment on the recent meeting of the President of the BiH entity of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina in general, Rutte said that the members of the BiH Presidency are the ones who should take over the role of leading the state and that he personally told them so three weeks ago in Sarajevo.
“I know that some of them are irritated by the role of High Representative Christian Schmidt and some aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement, but ultimately, if they take control, they can lead the state. That is my urgency. As far as NATO is concerned, I have made it clear that we cannot accept a security vacuum in BiH and we do not want destabilization there. We expect Dodik to simply accept court decisions, rulings of an independent judiciary and to behave accordingly,” Rutte said.
– Worrying situation in the Western Balkans –
Commenting on the situation in the Western Balkans, the NATO chief said that they attach great importance to stability in the region and that the situation is currently quite worrying and that is why NATO is present.
“I believe that KFOR in Kosovo and EUFOR forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina are very important. We cooperate closely in the region,” said Rutte, adding that the situation in Kosovo is significantly more stable and that it is necessary to prosecute those responsible for the attacks in Kosovo in 2023.
He added that the bilateral and trilateral agreements on defense cooperation between Croatia, Kosovo and Albania, and the one between Hungary and Serbia, represent the moves of these countries, and that NATO is not part of these arrangements.
The foreign ministers of NATO member states and representatives of partners will hold a meeting in Brussels in the next two days to discuss the security situation and preparations for the NATO summit in The Hague, and the head of the Alliance today emphasized that they will focus on strengthening collective defense and the fundamental principles on which NATO was founded.
Stressing that the world faces threats that no country can face alone, Rutte said that this week marks the third anniversary of the Russian massacre in Bucha, Ukraine.
– Life in a dangerous world –
He welcomed US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He also welcomed the contribution of France, Great Britain and other countries on the path to lasting peace.
“The threat from Russia remains and Russia continues to cooperate with China, Iran and North Korea in a way that harms Ukraine and endangers the security of NATO and the entire world,” Rutte said, adding:
“We live in a dangerous world and in the midst of such challenges we must build a stronger and more capable NATO. That is why the ministers are here this week to talk and confirm our commitment to achieving our common goal.”
He paid tribute to the deaths of four US soldiers during military training in Lithuania.
He added that the ministerial meeting in Brussels would also be attended by representatives of Ukraine, the European Union and countries of the Indo-Pacific region.
“Our partners make an invaluable contribution to our common security,” he concluded.
He refused to comment directly on US President Donald Trump’s threats to take over Greenland, an autonomous territory linked to Denmark, insisting that the issue should be viewed from a broader perspective of the security and defense capabilities of the entire Arctic region, pointing to Russian and Chinese threats.
Commenting on the so-called “coalition of the willing” in support of Ukraine, led by Great Britain and France, Rutte said that NATO has an advisory role in this matter and is ready to help, AA writes.
