Helez discussed NATO path and strengthening of the Armed Forces of BiH with the Minister of Defence of the Netherlands

(Patria) - The Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, accompanied by Deputy Minister Aleksandar Goganović, received the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Kajsa Ollongren, on an official visit on Monday, 06/11/2023.

The meeting discussed opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation between BiH and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and views were exchanged on the political and security situation in Europe and the world, and the impact of the current situation on the Western Balkan region.

Minister Helez thanked for the various support projects that the Dutch government has provided to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past, such as the program for the care of dismissed members of the Armed Forces of BiH "Perspektiva", as well as the support for the Peace Support Operations Training Centre (SOOPM/PSOTC) in Butmir. He expressed his expectation that the military cooperation between the two countries will become more intensive, both through NATO's support package for the development of the BiH Armed Forces' capacities and on a bilateral basis.

He emphasized the importance of the recent arrival of the Dutch contingent that reinforced EUFOR in BiH, and all interlocutors welcomed the fact that the UN Security Council extended the mandate of EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina for one year last week.

Helez particularly highlighted the importance of the fact that Minister Ollongren visited Potočari last year and paid tribute to the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica, as well as her regret that Dutch soldiers could not do more at the time to protect the local population.

Minister Ollongren announced her readiness for further development of bilateral relations between the Netherlands and BiH and emphasized that efforts are being made to re-establish the position of the Dutch military attaché on a resident basis in Sarajevo as soon as possible. She stressed that BiH will always have the support of the Netherlands on its path to membership in the European Union. She was particularly interested in how the security situation in the world and the region could affect the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina itself.

Minister Zukan Helez reminded that one of the main missions of the Armed Forces of BiH is the protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH, and that there are currently no specific threats to the state borders in that regard. He expressed concern about the significant endangerment of civilians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and emphasized that the fight against terrorism and the right to defense do not include the right to perpetrate terror against the civilian Palestinian population.

He warned that the expansion of this conflict could lead to a new wave of refugees, which would also be felt in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Helez emphasized that the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as a member of NATO and the European Union, is of great importance for BiH's path towards Euro-Atlantic integration. He noted that the current ruling structure is committed to fulfilling the 14 priorities for BiH's application for full EU membership and announced further progress in adopting key laws.