While Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and its citizens mark Statehood Day, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Sekerinska sent a strong message of support for the peace, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country.
“We are approaching the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. The Dayton Agreement marked the end of one of the darkest and most tragic chapters in modern European history. It also represented a new starting point. It strengthened peace and gave hope to all the people who live in BiH – hope for a new, better future. But at the same time, it also gave us the path to greater stability across the Western Balkans,” said Sekerinska.
She emphasized that NATO was an integral part of this historic process from the very beginning.
“From the deployment of IFOR in 1995 to today’s strong, mutually beneficial partnership – the so-called ITPP, a program aimed at bringing benefits to everyone who lives in BiH. A stable and secure BiH and a peaceful Western Balkans mean more security and more stability throughout the entire Euro-Atlantic area. NATO and our allies have been committed to BiH for three decades. Our position has always been clear and consistent,” she emphasized.
Sekerinska added that NATO will not allow a security vacuum to emerge, nor for the hard-won peace to be brought into question.
“We strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH. Today I use this opportunity to once again confirm that our commitment to the security of BiH and regional stability remains firm as a rock,” she concluded.
