Komšić at NATO Headquarters: We Must Increase Spending on BiH Armed Forces

(Patria) - Members of the BiH Presidency Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić participated in a North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting today, and also held a meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska.

BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić stated after the meeting that NATO is committed to cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"They want this cooperation to take on new forms, because at the technical level things are functioning quite well, solidly, I mean the cooperation with the Armed Forces of BiH. What is expected of us, and in the coming period it will be clearly stated and expressed, at least that is how it was communicated to us, is that certain political conditions are met. The first political condition is an increase in spending for the Armed Forces, i.e., the defense sector, from 0.9 percent of annual GDP to 1.7 or 1.8 percent. This will be a demand and expectation in the coming period from NATO," said Komšić.

He said that the support of all NATO member countries present at the meeting for BiH is unquestionable.

"The impression is that the cooperation between us and NATO is proceeding, but considering everything that is happening both in BiH and around BiH, and taking into account the current moment in the world, I think it is good that it has its own rhythm. There are further expectations regarding BiH. I would say it was a very good, useful meeting, and that NATO countries are interested in everything that is happening in BiH," said Komšić.