The Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nenad Nešić, met today in Budapest with the Minister of the Interior of Hungary, Sandor Pinter, with whom he discussed cooperation in the field of security and support for fulfilling BiH’s obligations on the way to EU integration.
Nešić reminded that BiH received the status of a candidate for EU membership and that the goal of the Ministry of Security is to be the leader of that process. He pointed out that he expects the support of Hungary as one of the key partners of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European path.
“We are neighbors and Hungary, better than others, can understand our specificities and help our differences to be better understood and accepted in Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a functioning country because an agreement was made on inter-ethnic balance within it. On the one hand, this brings long-term stability, because no nation can subjugate the other or the other two, but it also brings short-term instability due to the difficulty of reaching a compromise,” said Nešić.
He added that after ten years of waiting, cooperation with EUROPOL was finally established, and that the next goal is an agreement with FRONTEX.
“It is not the goal of my ministry that Bosnia and Herzegovina loses pace with the rest of the Western Balkans when it comes to this work. Due to the specificity of BiH, it will be necessary for the EU to understand that the agreement or the operational plan for its implementation must be refined with elements that respect those specificities,” said Nešić.
He added that he was referring, first of all, to the structure of the deployment of FRONTEX forces.
“In order to achieve an internal political compromise in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is important for us that, in addition to the Border Police, along with members of FRONTEX, members of entity and cantonal MUPs should be included. The second issue is the issue of immunity of members of FRONTEX, and it is acceptable for us that they have it while performing their duties, and the third issue is the issue of our sovereignty, i.e. that they must act in accordance with the expressed needs and tasks of our competent police bodies,” explained Nešić.
He expressed his belief that Hungary has the best understanding of the region, specifics and common interest for the Western Balkans to join full membership in the EU with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Nešić expressed his gratitude to the Government of Hungary, Prime Minister Orban and Minister of Foreign Affairs Szijjarto, because in complex security times in Europe, they have a clear and balanced position when it comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“With this, Hungary confirms the thesis that it understands our circumstances well and that it is a strong and stable country that prevents policies that could once again push the Balkans down the path of instability and conflict,” emphasized Nešić.
During the visit of the delegation of the BiH Ministry of Security to Budapest, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Hungary and BiH in the field of protection and rescue – the Ministry announced.
