Members of the Collegiums of both Houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside representatives of the PABiH Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Joint Committee on Defence and Security of BiH, met with the visiting NATO PA Delegation

Members of the Collegiums of Both Houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH), together with members of the PABiH Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) and the Joint Committee on Defence and Security of BiH, held a meeting today with the NATO PA Delegation, the members of the Science and Technology Committee/Sub-Committee on Technology Trends and Security, and the Political Committee/Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Relations of the NATO PA, who are on a two-day official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During an open dialogue at the meeting, discussions focused on the latest political developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the impact that the current crisis, characterised in various ways, has on the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire Western Balkans.

The current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was addressed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples of the PABiH and Head of the PABiH Delegation to the NATO PA, Kemal Ademović; the representative of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples, Dr Dragan Čović; the Deputy Head of the PABiH Delegation to the NATO PA and Deputy Chair of the Joint Committee on Defence and Security of BiH, Marina Pendeš; the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the PABiH, Dr Denis Zvizdić; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and member of the Joint Committee on Defence and Security, Darko Babalj; the Chair of the Joint Committee on Defence and Security of BiH, Jasmin Imamović; and committee members Sredoje Nović and Šerif Špago.

In their remarks, where they also touched upon the serious impact of the crisis on the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as on the stagnation in economic development, job creation, and the accelerated emigration of young people, officials of the PABiH welcomed the visit of the NATO parliamentarians and the interest they have shown in the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They expressed their gratitude for the support that the NATO PA and all member states of the Alliance provide to our country in terms of implementing reforms, as well as in preserving peace and ensuring a safe environment for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Members of the NATO PA Delegation once again expressed strong support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European integration process, as well as for the continuation of partnership relations that BiH institutions have with NATO and the NATO PA. They called for what they described as open and sincere dialogue as a means of resolving the ongoing crisis in BiH.

Discussions also covered the long-standing cooperation between BiH institutions, particularly the Joint Committee on Defence and Security of BiH, the PABiH Delegation to the NATO PA, the Ministry of Defence, and the Armed Forces of BiH—and NATO, as well as the continued support provided by NATO and individual member states in the area of modernisation and training of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The meeting was also attended by the Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Brigadier General Matthew A. Valas, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Sarajevo, Stefan Almehagen Sandstad. (End)