Komšić in Vienna: No reason to halt Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to NATO

VIENNA, (Patria) - The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić, met today in Vienna with the President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen. Chairman Komšić was welcomed in Vienna with military honours. During a lengthy and open discussion, the interlocutors exchanged views on political and social processes in Europe and the region.

The interlocutors assessed the bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Austria and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as excellent and expressed satisfaction with the overall relations between the two countries. It was stated that the Republic of Austria is the largest investor in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it was noted that around 200,000 Bosnians and Herzegovinians live and work in the Republic of Austria. It was highlighted that Bosnia and Herzegovina records a surplus in economic relations with the Republic of Austria. On the other hand, expectations were expressed for further investments in BiH, especially in the wood industry. The exceptional friendly, cultural, historical, and educational ties between the two countries were mutually emphasized.

During the meeting, the President of the Republic of Austria thanked the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić, for Bosnia and Herzegovina's support for his initiative in the field of climate change. President Van der Bellen stated that Austria supports the accession of the entire Southeast European region to the European Union, expressing interest in the relations in the region and the dynamics of the process of forming a new government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Informing the President of the Republic of Austria about the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chairman Komšić warned that the reasons for the non-formation of government are of a deeper political nature, emphasizing that certain political actors do not respect the laws and decisions of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding Euro-Atlantic integration, even though they were adopted and signed precisely by the same political factors. He stated that it is impossible for Bosnia and Herzegovina to go backwards, especially in the area of NATO integration, because it is illegal and represents a political problem. Chairman Komšić emphasized that he sees no reason why Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to NATO should be halted.

Chairman Komšić stressed that Austria's military neutrality, which is misused in political discourse in BiH as an alleged argument against BiH's NATO integration, cannot be linked to the political intentions of opponents of NATO integration in BiH, as it is a completely different understanding of neutrality. Komšić added that NATO means security and stability for BiH, which the Republic of Austria possesses, thereby eliminating the fear of conflict through the implementation of reforms forever.

Chairman Komšić stated that he signs every word from the European Commission's Opinion, i.e., the recommendations and measures that need to be taken for Bosnia and Herzegovina to move closer to the EU by fulfilling European standards and rejecting anti-European concepts, because there is no flirting with ethnic concepts in the EC Opinion. The President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, gladly accepted the invitation of the Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Željko Komšić, for an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.