Čović and HDZ the only ones from Federation not supporting Komšić's attempt to unblock BiH's NATO path

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Efforts by member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić to move Bosnia and Herzegovina forward on its NATO path have, from the Federation of BiH, only not yet been supported by Dragan Čović and HDZ BiH.

Authorities from Republika Srpska, an entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, strongly oppose Bosnia and Herzegovina's entry into NATO, although decisions on accession to the Alliance were previously signed by members of SNSD, the ruling party in RS, which they are now trying to dispute.

Komšić recently stated that his condition for supporting the appointment of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Zoran Tegeltija (SNSD), as a member of the Presidency of BiH, is the adoption of the Annual National Programme for NATO.

During a brief meeting between Dodik and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Belgrade, Dodik accused Bosniaks of wanting to drag BiH into NATO, while he, as a representative of Bosnian Serbs, stated he strongly opposes it: "At this moment, Bosniak and Croat... are trying to condition this with the acceptance of the decision on the path to NATO, which we reject, of course. Therefore, the implementation of the (election) results will likely take some longer time," Dodik told the Russian president about his efforts to stop Bosnia and Herzegovina's NATO path, which is one of Russia's strategic goals.

Komšić has received support for his policy of making BiH's NATO path a primary interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina from all parties from the Federation, except for HDZ BiH.

"BH Bloc has fully supported the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić, who conditioned the appointment of the candidate for the Council of Ministers of BiH on respecting laws and obligations towards BiH, 'and not on having those in those positions who deny the laws and obligations that the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina has,'" SDP BiH President Nermin Nikšić told reporters in Sarajevo after a meeting with other members of BH Bloc - presidents of DF and Our Party Željko Komšić and Predrag Kojović.

"NATO membership is vital for Bosnia and Herzegovina, even more vital than European integration processes," said Our Party President Predrag Kojović.

Komšić's policy of conditioning the formation of the Council of Ministers with Bosnia and Herzegovina's NATO path has also been supported by another member of the Presidency, Šefik Džaferović (SDA).

The Alliance for Better Future (SBB) also announced on January 16 that they express full support for the positions of the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić and Šefik Džaferović, regarding the unblocking of the NATO path, "as a key prerequisite for the formation of the new convocation of the Council of Ministers," the party announced.

Although HDZ President Dragan Čović claims that BiH's entry into NATO is the top priority for BiH, and that the Croatian Democratic Union of BiH has contributed the most for NATO to assess BiH's efforts as credible and invite BiH to submit the MAP, Čović is the only politician from the Federation of BiH who has not yet supported Komšić in his positions regarding the Alliance.