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VILNIUS, July 12 (FENA) - Bosnia and Herzegovina has partners and friends in NATO member countries who will help in the modernization and better equipment and integrity of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Josip Brkić, for FENA from Vilnius where he is participating in the NATO summit.
This summit was evaluated as one of the most important for the allies who are facing great challenges, both in Europe and in Asia. Although the focus of the summit was on relations with Russia and continued aid to Ukraine, given the current situation, on the sidelines of the meeting, but also at a bilateral level, the allies also discussed the situation in the Western Balkans.
On this occasion, a meeting of foreign ministers of NATO member states with colleagues from Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was organized.
Brkić told FENA that at the meeting, many countries welcomed the rapid formation of the Council of Ministers, as well as the rapid formation of the Commission for Cooperation with NATO, headed by him, but several countries also expressed concern with the latest rhetoric in the context of the weakening of Bosnia and Herzegovina's institutions, as well as secessionist rhetoric.
"States believe that peace, stability and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina represent at the same time the peace and security of Europe or the so-called Euro-Atlantic space in which NATO member countries are. The support was sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the context of the 'defense capacity building' program and some member countries said they would allocate funds for that purpose. Among other things, Great Britain will donate about one million pounds, and the Republic of Croatia about 500 thousand euros," he added.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was not discussed at the summit because it is a decision that our country should make sovereignly when the time comes.
Brkić also revealed that in 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the seat of the NATO partner symposium in which all partner and member countries will participate.
Given that the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius should approve NATO's first comprehensive plans since the Cold War for defense against any Russian attack, Brkić emphasized that this is a historic summit in the context of a major threat to transatlantic peace and security.
Speaking about the expectations of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is looking for a clear path to join NATO after the end of the war, Brkić said that the policy of open doors and the policy of accepting new member countries into NATO is constantly confirmed.
Brkić expressed his belief that Bosnia and Herzegovina will also be closer on this path.
"My political option, my political habitus believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina also has a place in the full membership of NATO, but it will again be an internal consensus in BiH that NATO will respect," concluded Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Josip Brkić.
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