Zvizdić with Stoltenberg: BiH must fulfill conditions for NATO accession

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Denis Zvizdić met today in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. During the meeting, Chairman Zvizdić stated that the strategic foreign policy goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina is full membership in NATO, reports Patria.

He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina is determined to promote peace, stability, security, and prosperity in the region and globally, and is committed to deepening cooperation in defense and security, and cooperation aimed at integrating the region into European and Euro-Atlantic integrations. He informed the Secretary General about the fulfillment of the conditions for activating the Action Plan for NATO Membership. He stressed that BiH is striving to meet the conditions from Tallinn so that NATO can make a decision on activating the MAP as soon as possible.

Chairman Zvizdić informed the Secretary General about the progress achieved recently in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Secretary General Stoltenberg praised BiH's progress in fulfilling the tasks for activating the MAP and emphasized that the conditions agreed upon in Tallinn must be fully met. He said that NATO and BiH have a common interest, which is strengthening cooperation for the sake of security. He thanked BiH for its participation in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, which currently includes 55 members of the Armed Forces of BiH.

Chairman Zvizdić said that BiH should become a NATO member, not only for the guarantee of internal security but also because, by adapting to the standards and values advocated by NATO, BiH will become a modern state in which democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights are a permanent category.

Zvizdić said that through participation in NATO activities, Bosnia and Herzegovina is actively preparing to be a credible, prepared, and serious ally in the future, which will be an added value to this alliance, and he expects the MAP to be activated at the next NATO summit.

The meeting was attended by Almir Džuvo, Head of the BiH Mission to NATO in Brussels.