The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zukan Helez, together with Deputy Ministers Slaven Galić and Aleksandar Goganović, received today the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Norway Bjorn Arild Gram, who is on a two-day visit to our country. The topics of discussion were the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, with a special focus on the process of Euro-Atlantic integration and the role of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway, as the embassy’s contact for BiH’s cooperation with the NATO alliance.
Minister Helez introduced his colleague Gram to the activities carried out by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Armed Forces (AF) of Bosnia and Herzegovina when it comes to the Euro-Atlantic path of our country, and expressed his satisfaction with the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is working to fulfill the conditions contained in the 14 priorities of the European Union which are set for the start of EU membership negotiations. In the conversation, the Minister emphasized once again that the Euro-Atlantic path of our country has no alternatives and that the institutions of our country, especially the MoD and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, will continue the path of reforms that lead to full membership in both NATO and the European Union.
Minister Helez thanked his colleague Gram for the help that Norway provides to the development of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina through English language learning projects, help with equipment for monitoring and destroying unstable ammunition and surplus mines and explosives, and building integrity and raising the level of training.
In the conversation, Minister Gram expressed his full support for Bosnia and Herzegovina in achieving its strategic foreign policy goals, and said that the Norwegian embassy in BiH will continue to show the residents of BiH the benefits and importance of full membership in the NATO alliance. He also announced further assistance in strengthening BiH’s defense capacities, support in dealing with modern threats, including cyber threats, and financial assistance to the Training Center for Peace Support Operations (SOOPM/PSOTC), as well as programs to promote gender equality in the Armed Forces of BiH.
Minister Helez particularly drew attention to the need for assistance in modernizing the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina with combat equipment, so that Bosnia and Herzegovina would not lag behind other countries in the region.
“No one should be afraid of the modernization and equipping of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I remind you that Bosnia and Herzegovina has never attacked anyone in its history, nor does it intend to,” emphasized Helez.
Deputy Minister Goganović said that the cooperation with the Kingdom of Norway has been successful so far and expressed the hope that it will continue to be so in the future.
“BiH’s European path is certainly a priority and we all need to contribute to create negotiations on EU membership,” Goganović said, adding that the security situation in BiH is stable and that we owe a great deal of gratitude to the EUFOR Mission.
He also expressed the expectation that the EUFOR Mission will be extended. Bearing in mind that the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway is the contact embassy of NATO, Goganović emphasized the commitment to cooperation with the NATO alliance as defined by the Reform Program.
Deputy Minister Galić also thanked Norway for the help so far and expressed expectations that Norway will also support full membership in NATO and the EU.
Minister Gram pointed out that Norway will continue to help BiH and support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH, as well as its multi-ethnic character.
