NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said at a press conference after the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels that he will not allow a security vacuum in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that it is a very important country.
“Well, I mean, again, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very important country. Coming from the Netherlands, of course, I have my own personal, close relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have a common history as nations, but also when it comes to NATO, when it comes to the European Union, there is close cooperation, and NATO really will never accept a security vacuum in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’ll leave it a little vague as to what that means. You will understand. Others will understand. Let them think about what that might mean. But I can guarantee you that it exists and that it is absolutely benevolent,” said Rutte when asked about earlier statements, which means that he will not accept a security vacuum.
He said that they are present in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that they have KFOR in Kosovo and that they have bilateral relations, “NATO, including me personally, with the president of Serbia, because it is important that Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the situation in Serbia, be stable, so that you can develop your own economy, so that the three-member leadership, the three people who make up the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, can take as much control over the country as possible”.
“We all encourage them to do that. I know that sometimes there are criticisms against some of the Dayton structures, and I say to them: ‘Hey, take responsibility for the country. Do it yourself’. Of course, it’s not always easy, because we know the political tensions and political difficulties involved, and I respect that, and we will help to solve it. The European Union is really leading that process,” said Rutte.
