Bosnia's Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik met on Tuesday newly appointed US Ambassador in Sarajevo Eric George Nelson who presented his credentials to the head of the state.
The new ambassador expressed hope he would have successful cooperation with the state Presidency.
“I am glad that I will be helping your country together with you and your colleagues in the Presidency to make progress towards the partnership in NATO and EU, which are its goals,” he said.
Milorad Dodik, who took the post in the State Presidency as the representative of the Serbs and Bosnia's Republika Srpska entity after the October election, has been openly objecting the NATO membership.
The Serb leadership, which along with other two major ethnic groups – the Bosniaks and the Croats, takes part in the decision making at the state level, including a decision on possible accession to NATO, took a stance of military neutrality and said they would follow Serbia's steps regarding the relations with the alliance.
“We're committed to cooperation with NATO and we have certain arrangements through the Partnership for Peace and individual cooperation programme. Our soldiers take part in various missions within NATO but I would like to tell you that there is no consensus in Bosnia and Herzegovina on accession to NATO,” said Dodik adding that, on the other hand, there is full consensus on the European Union integration.
“We want your help. We are devoted to the European integration,” he added.
Presidency Chairman also said Bosnia appreciates the role of the USA in ending the 1990s war as well as its role in establishing the peace and stabilisation in Bosnia.
The meeting resumed behind the closed doors.
