Bećirović spoke with Head for Europe and Eurasia at the State Department Brendan Hanrahan

(Patria) - BiH Presidency member Denis Bećirović spoke with Head of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the US State Department Brendan Hanrahan. The BiH Presidency member expressed gratitude to the administration of the United States of America (USA) for the continuous support and attention they dedicate to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He emphasized that the decades-long strategic partnership with the USA is of key importance for preserving peace, stability, and the overall progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. He expressed a clear commitment to pursuing responsible policies in terms of consistently implementing the adopted foreign policy goals of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bećirović highlighted that the steps taken by the USA open doors to new opportunities for progress, and that this is an opportunity for all domestic political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to seize it in the interest of all citizens of our country.

During the phone conversation, Bećirović particularly emphasized the importance of the Office of the High Representative of the International Community (OHR) as an important factor in preserving the Dayton Peace Agreement. The OHR, established by Annex 10 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, has proven to be one of the key protection mechanisms against anti-Dayton policies, which seriously undermine peace and security in the country.

He recalled that 2025 clearly showed how dangerous it is to question the mandate and powers of the OHR, given that the OHR, together with the Constitutional Court of BiH, played a key role in stopping brutal and dangerous attempts to undermine the constitutional order and the Dayton Peace Agreement. Therefore, continuous and unambiguous support for this institution from the USA and other strategic partners is of essential importance for preserving peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. He emphasized that the OHR provides security to citizens and that the 5+2 conditions for its closure, set by the international community, are an important mechanism for protecting the democratic order.

Bećirović stressed that the Southern Gas Interconnection is one of the most important strategic energy projects for Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was emphasized that the realization of this project will significantly strengthen the country's energy security, reduce dependence on a single supplier, and enable supply diversification. It was assessed that it is important to accelerate all technical and administrative processes to ensure the earliest possible implementation of this capital project.

The interlocutors agreed on the importance of efforts to support peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as on the need for domestic actors to cooperate in preserving the rule of law, improving economic cooperation with the USA, and creating a stable environment in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.