Jusić: The Annual National Programme for NATO will be sent to the Council of Ministers today or tomorrow

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Members of the Commission for NATO Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Republika Srpska did not attend today's session of that commission in Sarajevo, which was supposed to decide on sending the Annual National Programme to Brussels.

A country wishing to become a NATO member prepares its Annual National Programme (ANP), which it presents to NATO. At the end of the annual cycle, the ministers of foreign affairs and defence present the results of the reform programme and future activities before the North Atlantic Council of NATO, which then assesses the individual progress in preparations for membership. Preparations and reforms include five areas: political and economic, defence and military, financial, security, and legal issues. 

The Chairperson of the Commission and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Josip Brkić, told reporters on Thursday that there was a quorum to hold the session, but there was no quorum to make decisions. The Commission for NATO Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina has 20 members.

On the other hand, the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Sead Jusić, told the Patria agency that the Chairperson of the Commission will send the report to the Council of Ministers of BiH today or tomorrow, regardless of the fact that the members of the Commission from RS did not show up at the session today.

“The Council of Ministers, at one of its previous meetings, adopted a conclusion for the Commission for NATO Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina to update the Annual National Programme and send it to all relevant institutions for their opinions on the draft. We have incorporated all proposals from those institutions that provided their opinions into the new material,” said Jusić.

“In accordance with his authorities, the Chairperson of the Commission for NATO Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina will send this material to the Council of Ministers, which will take a final stance, because ultimately, the Council of Ministers of BiH is the one that adopts this document,” added Jusić.

Member of the Presidency of BiH, Milorad Dodik, said after the session of the Presidency of BiH held on Monday that there is a consensus in the Presidency of BiH on the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there is no consensus on NATO.

“Republika Srpska is not ready to move forward on this issue, considering the National Assembly of Republika Srpska's Resolution on Military Neutrality,” added Dodik.