NATO Deputy Secretary General Šekerinska: We are closely monitoring political and security developments in BiH

(Patria) - Radmila Šekerinska, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, addressed the media in Brussels ahead of the meeting with members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As she pointed out, NATO's presence and engagement in the Western Balkans have been ongoing for many years, and the foreign ministers of the Alliance member states reaffirmed their determination last week to preserve the stability of the entire region, with a special focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We continue to closely monitor political and security developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I want to share three key messages before today's meeting," Šekerinska said.

The first message concerns support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH.

"We clearly emphasize that the Dayton Peace Agreement must be fully respected. It represents the foundation of the country's stability and constitutional order, and as such deserves the full attention of all political actors," she stressed.

The second message concerns the importance of preserving the legal order.

"The BiH Constitution must be respected. We will not allow the creation of any security vacuum or the jeopardizing of hard-won peace. We are closely cooperating with international partners on this front," Šekerinska stated, adding that the security and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina also represent a broader security interest.

As the third point, Šekerinska highlighted the significance of cooperation with BiH.

"BiH is a partner we value and with whom we want to further develop relations. We are ready to continue implementing the package of measures to strengthen capacities, through the daily work of the NATO office in Sarajevo and the support of our political staff," she added.

She also added that NATO will continue to provide support to the EUFOR Althea Mission through the “Berlin plus” arrangement, with full support for the High Representative's mandate, whose legitimacy must remain unquestionable.

"We want to see Bosnia and Herzegovina progress on its European and Euro-Atlantic path. Much has already been done, but new challenges lie ahead. We are ready to face them together, for the benefit of all citizens of BiH," Šekerinska concluded.