News in English     | 08.04.2019. 20:07 |

Pendeš: I am confident that BiH will become a NATO member

FENA Muamer Selimbegovic

SARAJEVO, April 8 (FENA) - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is celebrating 70 years of existence and activity these days, and it is the most powerful military and political alliance that, with numerous global initiatives, has significantly influenced developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The relationship between the Alliance and Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past three decades has resulted in the invitation to the BiH authorities to approve the Annual National Plan (ANP), which is a step towards activating the Membership Action Plan (MAP).

At the meeting held on December 5, 2018 in Brussels, the foreign ministers of the member states of the Alliance reaffirmed their readiness to continue supporting BiH on its reform path, and expressed their willingness to accept the first ANP for BiH, turning our MAP in fact from the provisional into an active status, reminded the BiH Ministry of Defense in response to FENA’s inquiry regarding the current priorities and status of the Euro-Atlantic integration, with respect to the marking of the NATO anniversary.

In addition to this, they point out that the competent BiH institutions are now in a position to decide on the content and when the first ANP BiH would be presented to the NATO structures.

“Although the decision on NATO's readiness to accept the first ANP for BiH does not have a direct connection with the dynamic of European integration process for BiH, it is an undisputed fact that the active status of the MAP also strengthens the prospects for the integration of our country into the European Union,” underlined the BiH Ministry of Defense.

The BiH Defense Minister Marina Pendeš said on Saturday that she believes the country will eventually join NATO as membership provides additional security and stability despite strong resistance from the Serb politicians in the country.

“I am confident that Bosnia and Herzegovina and all of its citizens and political leaders will reach a consensus so that Bosnia fulfils the legally defined condition and becomes a member of NATO, which will also contribute to the security and stability of our homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also to all of its peoples and citizens,” Minister Pendeš said.

She said that so far NATO member states have supported the capacities of the BiH Defense Ministry since its conception with bilateral agreements.

“Of course, in all of this, the United States has had a leading role,” she said, but added that other members of the alliance have also helped financial and material support, but also with education for members of the Armed Forces.

Years ago, Bosnia and Herzegovina has expressed its determination to join the Alliance and has been working on fulfilling the conditions for membership. But Bosnian Serb leaders have meanwhile changed their mind and now say they will not let the country join as long as neighboring Serbia does not join. Serbia declared military neutrality.

The issue has become an obstacle to the formation of the new government after the election last October. The new Bosniak and Croat members of the tripartite Presidency said that they will greenlight only a new prime minister who is ready to work on membership.

NATO these days is marking the 70th anniversary of its establishment. The North Atlantic Treaty was signed in 1949 by 12 countries of what was at the time called the Western Bloc.

The goal of NATO is to maintain the security and sovereignty of its member countries through military and political means. The key NATO provision refers to collective security.

(FENA) S. R.

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