Pendeš: Failure to fulfill obligations on the NATO path will affect the process of European integration of BiH

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot have three futures, and membership in important and large organizations can only bring BiH a better tomorrow, and despite internal disagreements on the topic of development and integration, we should all think together about where and how we see this country in the future. When we talk about the future, BiH's goal should be clear, and that is the path to the EU and NATO.

This was stated by the Minister of Defence of BiH Marina Pendeš, commenting on the current political situation related to the path to NATO and the sending of the ANP, the Ministry of Defence of BiH announced.

"The integration process has repeatedly proven to be key to fostering reforms that Bosnia and Herzegovina desperately needs. It is up to us whether we will know how to use it, through political dialogue and choice, to foster security, socio-economic development, and stability," Pendeš believes.

Commenting on the ANP, the Annual National Programme, she notes that Bosnia and Herzegovina must make a choice - fulfill its obligations or lose international influence. We must not allow, she says, the fulfillment of a technical issue such as the ANP to be treated as a platform for new internal disagreements. Withdrawing from the framework for coordinated strategic action, Minister Pendeš claims, would damage Bosnia and Herzegovina's reputation and freeze relations with an important military-political organization.

"We have all undertaken state obligations and we are asked to fulfill them. Failure to fulfill obligations on the NATO path will affect the perception of our political seriousness in European integration as well," Pendeš stated.

Welcoming the signing of the Principles for forming government at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the minister emphasizes that the aforementioned step demonstrates BiH's commitment to improving relations with the NATO alliance.

Point 3 of the Principles resolves the issue of NATO and represents an extremely significant and important step forward in realizing relations and uniting views in the area of international integration. Pendeš states that it must be clearly emphasized that any progress on the path of EU and NATO integration does not threaten national interests and state sovereignty, but rather contributes to the vision of a modern, open, and built Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"European and Euro-Atlantic integration are compatible processes that will contribute to the momentum of new, sustainable, and long-term success for BiH. Rejecting the opportunity for strategic steps leads to a kind of isolation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the heart of the European continent," concluded Minister Pendeš.