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SARAJEVO, July 1 (FENA) – The North-Atlantic Alliance (NATO) will keep its presence, focus and engagement in BiH to help implement reforms for the wellbeing of all citizens, Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo Brigadier General Robert Huston said in an interview with FENA.
He noted in his farewell interview with FENA that commitment of the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo BiH lies in an ongoing cooperation and support to Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces, with emphasis on daily reform activities, and all those reforms are directed to strengthening of key pillars of democratic society.
As a second priority he mentioned activities in implementation of the Defense Review, even before activation of MAP because it was important to show the allies as much progress as possible before the upcoming NATO Summit in July and determination of BiH on its NATO path.
In the light of the last-year’s successful NATO field exercise for disaster management, hosted by BiH, focus was to help BiH and regional partners to improve coordination of response to natural disaster that affected this region in the previous period.
“In that light, I strongly advocated approach of regional solutions for regional problems. My attempts were directed towards supporting BiH citizens to secure a safe and stable environment which provides a platform for economic prosperity which you definitely deserve,” underlined Huston.
General Huston said that those who have been involved in the defense reform process in BiH since the beginning can testify the enormous progress that has been achieved, especially when looked at beyond the defense sector and army.
“At one point it was difficult to even imagine entity armies united under one Ministry of Defense and flag of the Armed Forces. That proves how far we have come and what can be done when we all work together,” said Huston, who added NATO will continue working with BiH.
Commenting on BiH’s membership in NATO, he emphasized that basic measures that the international community can take in order to help BiH achieve stability and progress is specific assistance, advice and resources on the field related to attempts directed towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
“As far as MAP is concerned, it is a partnership program between NATO and a candidate country, which is of great assistance for the future spectrum of reforms which will be beneficial to all citizens of BiH. It reflects NATO demands not only related to defense issues but security in general, political and democratic supervision, responsibility and transparency in decision making process, financial and budget procedures, justice system and much more,” emphasized Huston.
Therefore, he emphasized, that is why BiH leaders are encouraged to take the necessary steps so MAP could be activated, because it is primarily beneficial for all citizens of BiH.
He concluded that future of BiH is bright, and that the power of this country lies in its diversity, adding he saw on the field that BiH citizens have goals and hope, which is why he believes that BiH will be successful from local and international perspective.
(FENA) A. B.
