Members of the Joint Committee for Defence and Security of BiH and the PA BiH Delegation to NATO PA held a meeting with members of the NATO Committee for Partnership and Cooperation Security

Members of the Joint Commission for Defence and Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PA BiH) in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held a meeting with members of the NATO Committee for Security Partnership and Cooperation in Sarajevo today.

The members of the NATO committee were greeted by the Chair of the Joint Committee for Defence and Security of BiH, Jasmin Imamović, who thanked the NATO member states for their significant support and assistance to BiH. Assessing that this is an extremely important visit, which comes at a time when BiH needs stability, as well as dialogue and consensus on numerous open issues, Imamović called on the representatives of NATO member states to continue implementing numerous support programs in BiH, as well as to the continuation of cooperation and political dialogue in such high formats. Imamović also introduced the members of the NATO committee to the activities of the Joint Committee, emphasizing the high level of partnership and cooperation that the Joint Committee has with the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, the NATO PA Secretariat, as well as that it intensively follows the work of the BiH Committee for cooperation with NATO. He pointed out that BiH has professional and well-organized police agencies, as well as that the Armed Forces of BiH have successfully completed the transition period, and that the adopted high standards of members of the Armed Forces of BiH have been recognized through their participation in international peacekeeping military missions.

The members of the NATO committee were greeted by the Chair of PA BiH delegation to NATO PA and member of the Joint Committee for Defence and Security of BiH, Kemal Ademović, who assessed that the Delegation of PA BiH is an associated member of NATO PA and that its activities and engagement are recognized as a credible and respected partner. Ademović also spoke about the meaningful participation of the members of the Delegation at the 69th NATO PA spring session in Luxembourg, assessing that Bosnia and Herzegovina has numerous and significant friends among the NATO member states, who are ready to continue partnership and support of BiH. In this regard, he confirmed that Bosnia and Herzegovina has accepted the offer and that in November this year it will host the Rose-Roth seminar of NATO PA, and expressed his belief that our country will be a good host for over 130 parliamentarians from NATO countries and associated member countries.

Deputy Chair of the Joint Committee for Defence and Security of BiH, Radovan Kovačević and members of the Joint Committee Zdenko Ćosić and Šerif Špago also took part in the conversation and expressed their views on the issue of BiH's membership in NATO. It was emphasized that BiH and NATO officials are determined to continue the process of partnership cooperation with NATO in the interest of strengthening the security and stability of all citizens of BiH, without prejudicing the question of BiH's membership in this military-political organization.

Members of the NATO Committee expressed strong support for BiH, stressing that NATO wants a strong neighbour, capable of developing and implementing reforms with the aim of fully ensuring a stable and safe environment for all citizens of BiH and to cooperate with the countries of the region in the interest of security and stability. Evaluating that BiH is one of NATO's closest partners, members of the NATO Committee presented a new package of support to BiH, aimed at supporting BiH for participation in international peace operations and projects that are implemented in cooperation with the ministries of defence and security of BiH. The representatives of Germany, which plans to allocate 15 million euros for medical vehicles and infrastructure projects, as well as the representatives of Slovenia and Croatia in the NATO Committee, declared their participation in the BiH support package.

Members of the NATO Committee welcomed the decision to grant candidate status for full membership in the European Union and were interested in the activities of the institutions and the dynamics of BiH's European path. The members of PA BiH Joint Committee for Defence and Security emphasized that there is a high degree of consensus regarding the process of European integration and BiH's membership in the European Union and assessed that the institutions of BiH, after the rapid completion of the process of forming the government at all levels, intensified their work on fulfilling 14 priorities from the Opinion of the European Commission on BiH's application for membership in the European Union. (end)