As state Defence Minister, I worked continuously to fulfil the tasks set before the Ministry in reaching Bosnia and Herzegovina’s primary foreign policy goal – the EU and NATO accession. Therefore, I expect the Council of Ministers to adopt Bosnia’s Annual National Programme for NATO, said the Defence Minister, Marina Pendes, on Thursday,

“Countless officials and NATO member states commended the progress Bosnia made in this process. Thisis best seen in the readiness of the NATO Council (NAC) to accept Bosnia’s first Annual National Programme (ANP), thus initiating the process to activate Bosnia’s Membership Action Plan (MAP) for NATO,” Pendes said.

In December 2018, Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General said that NATO is ready to accept Bosnia's first ANP, following a two-day session of the NATO foreign ministers. This practically means the activation of the country's MAP.

Pendes recalled that the Draft ANP for 2018-2019, made by the Council of Ministers’ Commission for Bosnia’s NATO integration process, was completed in October 2018 and consists of five main chapters: Political and economic matters; defence and security matters; matters regarding resources; safety; and legal issues.

“Based on the State Defence Law, Bosnia’s Security Policy and the State Defence Policy, the State Foreign Policy Strategy as well as the 2009 Presidency decision, including the whole range of conclusions made by the Presidency regarding the MAP activation activities, I expect the Council of Ministers to adopt the Draft ANP which will then be sent to the NAC,” Pendes added.

With its adoption, Bosnia would achieve the conditions needed to implement its strategic goals and priorities. These goals would not only help Bosnia reach NATO’s high standards but improve the overall situation in the society.

Pendes noted that the MAP is not only about defence and military issues, but it aims to improve other fields which were previously identified by the Council of Ministers, and this institution needs to ensure its full implementation.

The Defence Minister concluded that she would be honoured if Bosnia would submit its first ANP to the NATO Council during her term in office so she could lead the State delegation in Brussels.